FIFA World Cup 2022 Referees (First Release)

Match officials retained

AFC

Referees

1. Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (QAT, photo)
2. Abdulla Mohammed (UAE)

Assistant Referees
1. Taleb Al-Marri (QAT)
2. Saoud Al-Maqaleh (QAT)
3. Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE)
4. Hasan Al-Mahri (UAE)

Video Assistant Referee
1. Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN)

CAF
Referees
1. Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)
2. Victor Gomes (RSA)

Assistant Referees
1. Abdelhak Etchiali (ALG)
2. Mokrane Gourari (ALG)
3. Souru Phatsoane (LES)
4. Zakhele Siwela (RSA)

Video Assistant Referee
1. Redouane Jiyed (MAR)

CONCACAF
Referees
1. Cesar Ramos (MEX)
2. Ivan Barton (SLV)
3. Ismail Elfath (USA)

Assistant Referees
1. Miguel Hernandez (MEX)
2. Alberto Morin (MEX)
3. David Moran (SLV)
4. Kyle Atkins (USA)
5. Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)
6. Corey Parker (USA)

Video Assistant Referees
1. Drew Fischer (CAN)
2. Fernando Guerrero (MEX)
3. Armando Villarreal (USA)

CONMEBOL
Referees
1. Fernando Rapallini (ARG)
2. Facundo Tello (ARG)
3. Raphael Claus (BRA)
4. Wilton Sampaio (BRA)
5. Jesus Valenzuela (VEN)

Assistant Referees
1. Juan Belatti (ARG)
2. Diego Bonfa (ARG)
3. Ezequiel Brailovsky (ARG)
4. Gabriel Chade (ARG)
5. Neuza Back (BRA)
6. Bruno Boschilia (BRA)
7. Rodrigo Figueiredo (BRA)
8. Bruno Pires (BRA)
9. Danilo Simon (BRA)
10. Tulio Moreno (VEN)
11. Jorge Urrego (VEN)

Video Assistant Referees
1. Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
2. Julio Bascunan (CHI)
3. Nicolas Gallo (COL)
4. Juan Soto (VEN)

UEFA
Referees
1. Michael Oliver (ENG)
2. Anthony Taylor (ENG)
3. Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP)
4. Stephanie Frappart (FRA)
5. Clement Turpin (FRA)
6. Daniele Orsato (ITA)
7. Danny Makkelie (NED)
8. Szymon Marciniak (POL)

Assistant Referees
1. Simon Bennett (ENG)
2. Gary Beswick (ENG)
3. Stuart Burt (ENG)
4. Adam Nunn (ENG)
5. Pau Cebrian Devis (ESP)
6. Roberto Diaz Perez (ESP)
7. Nicolas Danos (FRA)
8. Cyril Gringore (FRA)
9. Ciro Carbone (ITA)
10. Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)
11. Hessel Steegstra (NED)
12. Jan de Vries (NED)
13. Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL)
14. Pawel Sokolnicki (POL)

Video Assistant Referees
1. Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea (ESP)
2. Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez (ESP)
3. Juan Martinez Munuera (ESP)
4. Jerome Brisard (FRA)
5. Benoit Millot (FRA)
6. Bastian Dankert (GER)
7. Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
8. Paolo Valeri (ITA)
9. Paulus Van Boekel (NED)
10. Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)

Match officials released

AFC
Referees
1. Christopher Beath (AUS)
2. Ma Ning (CHN)
3. Alireza Faghani (IRN)
4. Yoshimi Yamashita (JPN)

Assistant Referees
1. Ashley Beecham (AUS)
2. Anton Shchetinin (AUS)
3. Cao Yi (CHN)
4. Shi Xiang (CHN)
5. Mohammadreza Abolfazli (IRN)
6. Mohammadreza Mansouri (IRN)

Video Assistant Referees
1. Shaun Evans (AUS)
2. Abdullah Al-Marri (QAT)

CAF
Referees
1. Bakary Gassama (GAM)
2. Salima Mukansanga (RWA)
3. Maguette N’Diaye (SEN)
4. Janny Sikazwe (ZAM)

Assistant Referees
1. Jerson Dos Santos (ANG)
2. Elvis Noupue (CMR)
3. Mahmoud El-Regal (EGY)
4. Arsenio Marengula (MOZ)
5. Djibril Camara (SEN)
6. El Hadji Samba (SEN)

Video Assistant Referee
1. Adil Zourak (MAR)

CONCACAF
Referees
1. Mario Escobar (GUA)
2. Said Martinez (HON)

Assistant Referees
1. Raymundo Feliz (DOM)
2. Juan Mora (CRC)
3. Walter Lopez (HON)
4. Karen Diaz (MEX)
5. Zachari Zeegelaar (SUR)
6. Caleb Wales (TRI)

CONMEBOL
Referees
1. Kevin Ortega (PER)
2. Andres Matonte (URU)

Assistant Referees
1. Michael Orue (PER)
2. Jesus Sanchez (PER)
3. Martin Soppi (URU)
4. Nicolas Taran (URU)

Video Assistant Referee
1. Leodan Gonzalez (URU)

OFC
Referee
1. Matthew Conger (NZL)

Assistant Referees
1. Tevita Makasini (TGA)
2. Mark Rule (NZL)

UEFA
Referees
1. Daniel Siebert (GER)
2. Istvan Kovacs (ROU)
3. Slavko Vinčič (SVN)

Assistant Referees
1. Rafael Foltyn (GER)
2. Jan Seidel (GER)
3. Mihai Artene (ROU)
4. Vasile Marinescu (ROU)
5. Tomaz Klancnik (SVN)
6. Andraz Kovacic (SVN)

Video Assistant Referee
1. Marco Fritz (GER)

Clattenburg accuses referee Taylor of ignoring unwritten rule at World Cup

Former referee Mark Clattenburg believes that Anthony Taylor was responsible for triggering unsavoury scenes at the end of South Korea's match with Ghana at the World Cup, as he ignored an unwritten refereeing rule and blew up early.

Taylor was the man in charge for the highly-charged Group H match, which was eventually won 3-2 by Ghana. The African nation, led by Otto Addo, had raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of first-half strikes from Mohammed Salisu and Mohammed Kudus. But South Korea fought back and restored parity with a quickfire brace from Cho Gue-sung. Kudus grabbed his second just minutes later to hand Ghana their only win of the tournament, although South Korea had the last laugh by progressing at both Ghana and Uruguay's expense. While Ghana picked up the points, South Korea were left incensed at Taylor's decision to blow up deep into additional time before a corner could be taken. And Clattenburg, now head of the Egyptian FA's refereeing system, has hit out at Taylor for ignoring an unwritten refereeing rule which encourages officials to avoid ending the game during an attacking phase.

Reacting to the drama in his Daily Mail column, Clattenburg wrote: "I once blew before a corner could be taken — at Euro 2016 between Croatia and Czech Republic. Luka Modric and co weren’t happy. But that was different. That was for half-time. Anthony Taylor blowing for full-time before South Korea could take their corner against Ghana sparked ugly scenes. Referees are urged not to end the game in an attacking phase. A corner is an extension of that, and I’m sure there had been enough stoppages in the 10 minutes of extra time to enable South Korea to take the set-piece." Taylor's decision to end the game sparked chaotic scenes after the final whistle. South Korea boss Paulo Bento was shown a red card for his vociferous protests by Taylor.

Source: Mirror

UEFA Women’s Champions League 2022/23 – Group Stage (Matchday 4)

7 December 2022 

Rosengard – Benfica
Referee: Ivana Projkovska (MKD, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Vjolca Izeiri (MKD)
Assistant Referee 2: Elena Soklevska-Ilievski (MKD)
Fourth Official: Irena Velevačkoska (MKD)

Olympique Lyonnais – FC Zürich Frauen
Referee: Monika Mularczyk (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Paulina Baranowska (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Julia Bukarowicz (POL)
Fourth Official: Michalina Diakow (POL)

Arsenal WFC – Juventus
Referee: Ivana Martinčić (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Sanja Rodjak-Karšić (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Maja Petravić (CRO)
Fourth Official: Sabina Bolic (CRO)

Bayern München – FC Barcelona
Referee: Esther Staubli (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Susann Küng (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Linda Schmid (SUI)
Fourth Official: Desiree Grundbacher (SUI)

8 December 2022
Vllaznia – Paris St. Germain
Referee: Frida Nielsen (DEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Fie Bruun (DEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Sidsel Rasmussen (DEN)
Fourth Official: Frederikke Sokjær (DEN)

Wolfsburg – AS Roma
Referee: Rebecca Welch (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Franca Overtoom (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Emily Carney (ENG)
Fourth Official: Abigail Marriott (ENG)

Real Madrid – Chelsea WFC
Referee: Kateryna Monzul (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Maryna Striletska (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Svitlana Grushko (UKR)
Fourth Official: Anastasiya Romanyuk (UKR)

St. Polten – Slavia Praha
Referee: Shona Shukrula (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolet Bakker (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Diana Snoeren (NED)
Fourth Official: Lizzy Van Der Helm (NED)

FIFA World Cup 2022 – Round of 16 (Matches 55-56)

6 December 2022

Morocco – Spain
Referee: Fernando Rapallini (ARG, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Belatti (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Bonfa (ARG)
Fourth Official: Raphael Claus (BRA)
Reserve AR: Bruno Pires (BRA)
VAR: Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
AVAR: Nicolas Gallo (COL)
OVAR: Nicolas Taran (URU)
SVAR: Julio Bascunan (CHI)
SAVAR: Bruno Boschilia (BRA)

Portugal – Switzerland
Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Alberto Morin (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Miguel Hernandez (MEX)
Fourth Official: Istvan Kovacs (ROU)
Reserve AR: Mihai Artene (ROU)
VAR: Drew Fischer (CAN)
AVAR: Massimiliano Irrati (ITA)
OVAR: Ciro Carbone (ITA)
SVAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)
SAVAR: Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)

FIFA defends VAR decision over Japan’s winning goal against Spain

FIFA insists Japan’s second goal in their shock World Cup victory over Spain was legitimate “on the evidence available” and added some of the images shared online were “misleading”.

FIFA published two posts on its official Twitter account. “Japan’s second goal in their 2-1 win over Spain was checked by VAR to determine if the ball had gone out of play,” the first read. “The video match officials used the goal line camera images to check if the ball was still partially on the line or not.” A second post added: “Other cameras may offer misleading images but, on the evidence available, the whole of the ball was not out of play.” The second post showed how a ball could appear to be wholly behind the line and therefore out of play from one angle, but when viewed from above part of the ball was still hanging over the line.

Source: FIFA

FIFA World Cup 2022 – Round of 16 (Matches 53-54)

5 December 2022

Japan – Croatia
Referee: Ismail Elfath (USA, photo)

Assistant Referee 1: Corey Parker (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Kyle Atkins (USA)
Fourth Official: Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)
Reserve AR: Mokrane Gourari (ALG)
VAR: Nicolas Gallo (COL)
AVAR: Julio Bascunan (CHI)
OVAR: Ezequiel Brailovsky (ARG)
SVAR: Paolo Valeri (ITA)
SAVAR: Abdelhak Etchiali (ALG)

Brazil – Korea
Referee: Clement Turpin (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Cyril Gringore (FRA)
Fourth Official: Slavko Vincic (SVN)
Reserve AR: Tomasz Klancnik (SVN)
VAR: Jerome Brisard (FRA)
AVAR: Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez (ESP)
OVAR: Roberto Diaz Perez (ESP)
SVAR: Benoit Millot (FRA)
SAVAR: Anton Shchetinin (AUS)

Furious Uruguay players chase referee down tunnel after World Cup exit

Despite beating Ghana 2-0 in what proved to be their final match, Luis Suarez and co were eliminated on goals scored, as South Korea snuck through thanks to a late 2-1 victory over Portugal. Although Uruguay picked up their first win of the tournament, they still needed one more goal to reach the last 16 and would've had a golden opportunity if Siebert had awarded them with a penalty. Firstly, in the 57th minute, Darwin Nunez was taken down by Daniel Amartey inside the Ghana box. The German official, who'd waved play on, was told by VAR to review his original decision on the pitch-side monitor, but Siebert refused to overturn his call. His firm doubling down left Uruguay enraged and, for them, it was about to get worse. That's because in the dying embers, after South Korea's dramatic win was sealed and they were left hoping that Uruguay wouldn't score a third, Edinson Cavani took a tumble in the penalty area. To his fury, VAR didn't even bother to send Siebert to the monitor. Cavani and Gimenez were both shown yellow cards for their post-match protests, as they were seen harassing the 38-year-old referee after he'd brought the fiercely contested clash to a close.

Legendary striker Suarez was in tears at full-time after what's likely go down as his final appearance at a World Cup. The ex-Liverpool and Barcelona marksman certainly made his mark before being subbed off in the second half, having provided the assist for both of Uruguay's goals. Teammate Giorgian de Arrascaeta finished them off and sent Ghana home. The Black Stars were in only need of a draw to reach the knockout stage and found themselves in agony after Andre Ayew saw his early penalty saved. But it wasn't in the script that Diego Alonso's side would follow them home, as South Korea completed their comeback against Portugal with a 91st-minute strike from Hwang Hee-Chan to send them through to the last 16.

Uruguay and Ghana's meeting was always going to be a messy affair thanks to the two nations' infamous quarter-final at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It was Suarez who blatantly handballed what would've been a late winning goal for Ghana just as Dominic Adiyah's shot was about to cross the line. Suarez was sent off with a straight red card, Ghana talisman Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the resulting penalty but skied his effort. The Black Stars would go on to lose the subsequent penalty shout-out and squander the best chance of reaching a World Cup semi-final in their history. This time, though, Uruguay were going down with them at the first hurdle. Alonso's men failed to reach the knockout stage mainly due to a drab 0-0 draw with South Korea and 2-0 defeat to Portugal.

Source: Mirror

FIFA World Cup 2022 – Round of 16 (Matches 51-52)

4 December 2022

France – Poland
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (VEN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jorge Urrego (VEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Tulio Moreno (VEN)
Fourth Official: Kevin Ortega (PER)
Reserve AR: Michael Orue (PER)
VAR: Juan Soto (VEN)
AVAR: Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
OVAR: Neuza Back (BRA)
SVAR: Julio Bascunan (CHI)
SAVAR: Martin Soppi (URU)

England – Senegal
Referee: Ivan Barton (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: David Moran (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)
Fourth Official: Said Martinez (HON)
Reserve AR: Raymundo Feliz (DOM)
VAR: Drew Fischer (CAN)
AVAR: Armando Villareal (USA)
OVAR: Ashley Beecham (AUS)
SVAR: Nicolas Gallo (COL)
SAVAR: Anton Shchetinin (AUS)

FIFA World Cup 2022 – Round of 16 (Matches 49-50)

3 December 2022

Netherlands – USA
Referee: Wilton Sampaio (BRA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Bruno Boschilia (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Bruno Pires (BRA)
Fourth Official: Andres Matonte (URU)
Reserve AR: Nicolas Taran (URU)
VAR: Nicolas Gallo (COL)
AVAR: Juan Soto (VEN)
OVAR: Ashley Beecham (AUS)
SVAR: Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
SAVAR: Jerson Dos Santos (ANG)

Argentina – Australia
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Pawel Sokolnicki (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Tomasz Listkiewicz (POL)
Fourth Official: Mario Escobar (GUA)
Reserve AR: Karen Diaz (MEX)
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
AVAR: Marco Fritz (GER)
OVAR: Alessandro Giallatini (ITA)
SVAR: Benoit Millot (FRA)
SAVAR: Ciro Carbone (ITA)

Frappart makes history as first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match

When a referee generates column inches, it is normally some indictment of their performance, the result of an uproar after a controversial decision. But Stephanie Frappart’s traditional anonymity has been broken for a different reason – she will make history as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match. Alongside assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Diaz from Mexico, the Frenchwoman will form part of an all-female refereeing trio officiating Costa Rica vs. Germany in their Group E match. Six female match officials have been officiating at this World Cup – referees Frappart, Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita as well as assistant referees Back, Diaz and Kathryn Nesbitt of the USA. FIFA announced their appointment back in May, when Frappart found out that she was going to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. “It’s a surprise, you cannot believe it and after two or three minutes, you realize that you are going to the World Cup. It’s amazing, not only for me, but also for my family and also for the French referees,” she tells CNN Sport.

Throughout her career, Frappart has achieved a seemingly endless series of firsts. In 2019, she became the first female referee to take charge of a Ligue 1 match, in August 2019 the first to take charge of a major men’s European match, and in 2020, the first to officiate a men’s UEFA Champions League match. “I knew that my life changed after 2019 because most people recognized me in the street,” Frappart recalls. “So, I am like a role model, for women referees but I think it [also] inspired some women in society or in companies to take more and more responsibility.” Already at this World Cup, Frappart has been the fourth official on two occasions – becoming the first female official at a men’s World Cup match at Mexico vs. Poland. Mukasanga and Yamashita have also been the fourth official at two and four games of this World Cup respectively. But there is an obvious tension between these historic moments for gender equality in football and the place in which they are happening as women’s rights are severely restricted in Qatar. “I was many times in Qatar… for the preparation of the World Cup, I was always welcomed in a good way. I don’t know how life is there, but I didn’t make the decision to go there or to organize the World Cup,” Frappart says. “So now, 10 years after, it’s difficult to say something, but I hope that… this World Cup will improve life for women there.”

At the World Cup, on football’s biggest stage, the pressure of refereeing a game is at its most intense. A referee might make 245 decisions in a single game, Sky Sports estimates, and if just one is wrong, it will be analyzed in microscopic detail. It could alter the course of a game, or even a team’s World Cup – denying it a title or ensuring it progresses no further in the tournament. “When you make a mistake, it’s more important than if a player makes a mistake – there are more consequences for the teams,” Frappart says. “It’s also easy to say that it’s the fault of the referee and not the fault of our team so when you lose.” As referees work their way up to the highest echelons of the game, this pressure changes. “It’s more from the media and [about] the money because you know that every decision is important and will make a difference for the team,” Frappart says. “But when you start in the local clubs, it’s more difficult with the spectators and with the environment.” Inevitably, female referees are heavily scrutinized too as they straddle two traditionally male-dominated fields: football and leadership. “There were many questions involved if she’s there because she’s a woman, perhaps she will not follow the game and everything,” Frappart recalls when she made her debut in Ligue 1. “It’s not only in football, but I think in every job when you’re a woman… you need to prove that you have the quality and after that they let you continue.” But as Frappart refereed more matches, the stance towards her changed. “Now, it’s not a question of gender. It’s now only a question about steel, [about] competencies. So now it’s ok, after one or two games, they left me alone and without any more media around.”

Similarly, in Rwanda, Mukansanga recalls never seeing a female referee to use as a role model for her own aspirations. “I worked hard and followed the men’s dreams because they were the people surrounding me,” she tells CNN Sport. “They’re all men. We had one World Cup referee here in Rwanda who went to the World Cup twice, so he inspired me a lot and I kept working hard to be like him.” With women refereeing and the matches at the Qatar World Cup broadcast to huge audiences worldwide, Frappart hopes that it will encourage more women to pick up a whistle. “So if you have more referees on the TV perhaps it might make it easier for women to say, okay, this is possible. Because if you don’t know if it’s possible for us, you cannot say: ‘Okay, I want to be a referee.’”

Source: CNN