With the countdown to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 well under way, FIFA’s Head of Refereeing Massimo Busacca has opened the first joint-preparation Elite AFC, CAF and OFC Referees Seminar in Doha, Qatar. The seminar brings together prospective referees from three FIFA Confederations. It is a historical one: for the first time in FIFA’s history, female and male referees are going through a host of activities together, including theoretical sessions in the classroom and practical sessions on the field of play. Theoretical sessions are focused on specific topics – from reading the game and positioning to tackles and penalty area incidents. The match officials will discuss videos of different game situations to achieve consistency and uniformity. Practical sessions on the field of play bring players and referees together to simulate what happens in a game and immediate feedback will be given to referees regarding their reading of the play, leading to their movement, position, angle of view and decisions. The instructors will also provide immediate feedback to improve performances. FIFA’s Head of Refereeing Massimo Busacca is looking ahead with a lot of enthusiasm to the cycle leading up to the Russia 2018 and the France 2019, with a unified, joint effort for men’s and women’s football. In his opening speech in Doha, Busacca said: “Men and women have to work together, because we are convinced that this should be our philosophy. The game is the same, the decisions they take are the same, and thus the preparation for the referees and assistant referees should be, too”. (Source: FIFA)
AFC
Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Abdulrahman Al Jassim (QAT, 1987)
2. Fahad Al Mirdasi (KSA, 1985)
3. Alireza Faghani (IRN, 1978)
4. Ravshan Irmatov (UZB, 1977)
5. Abdulla Mohamed (EAU, 1978)
6. Ryuji Sato (JPN, 1977)
7. Nawaf Shukralla (BHR, 1976)
Reserve Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN, 1986)
2. Mohd Bin Yaacob (MAS, 1986)
3. Jong Hyeok Kim (KOR, 1983)
Women Referees (FWWC 2019)
1. Rita Gani (MAS, 1977)
2. Kate Jacewicz (AUS, 1985)
3. Abirami Naidu (SIN, 1983)
4. Hyeon-Jeong Ok (KOR, 1988)
5. Ji-Yeong Park (KOR, 1981)
6. Liang Qin (CHN, 1979)
7. Casey Reibelt (AUS, 1988)
8. Hyang Ok Ri (PRK, 1977)
9. Aye Thein (MYA, 1982)
10. Yoshimi Yamashita (JPN, 1986)
CAF
Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Mehdi Abid Charef (ALG, 1980)
2. Alioum Alioum (CMR, 1982)
3. Bernard Camille (SEY, 1975)
4. Malang Diedhiou (SEN, 1973)
5. Bakary Gassama (GAM, 1979)
6. Ghead Grisha (EGY, 1976)
7. Janny Sikazwe (ZAM, 1979)
Reserve Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Joseph Lamptey (GHA, 1974)
2. Eric Otogo Castane (GAB, 1976)
3. Bamlak Tessema (ETH, 1980)
Women Referees (FWWC 2019)
1. Lilia Abdeljaoued (TUN, 1979)
2. Aya Ahoua (CIV, 1974)
3. Aissata Amegee (TGO, 1975)
4. Marximina Bernardo (ANG, 1979)
5. Incaf El Harkaoui (MAR, 1978)
6. Gladys Lengwe (ZAM, 1978)
7. Neama Mohamed (EGY, 1977)
8. Therese Neguel (CMR,1981)
9. Ledya Tafesse (ETH, 1980)
10. Fatou Thioune (SEN, 1985)
OFC
Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Matthew Conger (NZL, 1978)
2. Norbert Hauata (TAH, 1979)
Reserve Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Ravitesh Behari (FIJ, 1981)
2. Nicholas Waldron (NZL, 1982)
3. Abdelkader Zitouni (TAH, 1981)
Women Referees (FWWC 2019)
1. Anna-Marie Keighley (NZL, 1982)
2. Tupou Patia (COK, 1984)
3. Finau Vulivuli (FIJ, 1982)
1. Matthew Conger (NZL, 1978)
2. Norbert Hauata (TAH, 1979)
Reserve Referees (FWC 2018)
1. Ravitesh Behari (FIJ, 1981)
2. Nicholas Waldron (NZL, 1982)
3. Abdelkader Zitouni (TAH, 1981)
Women Referees (FWWC 2019)
1. Anna-Marie Keighley (NZL, 1982)
2. Tupou Patia (COK, 1984)
3. Finau Vulivuli (FIJ, 1982)