CAF Confederation Cup 2024/2025 – Group Stage (Matchday 4)

5 January 2025

Stade Malien – RS Berkane
Referee: Bamlak Tessema (ETH, photo)

ASC Jaraaf – Orapa United
Referee: Tanguy Mebiame (GAB)

CS Constantine – Bravos do Maquis
Referee: Mouhamed Issa (BEN)

CS Sfaxien – Simba
Referee: Daouda Gueye (SEN)

Stellenbosch – Desportivo da LS
Referee: Hillary Hambaba (ZAM)

ASEC Mimosas – USM Alger
Referee: Jean Nguiene (CGO)

Enyimba – Black Bulls
Referee: Mehrez Melki (TUN)

Al Masry – Zamalek
Referee: Lahlou Benbraham (ALG)

CAF Champions League 2024/2025 – Group Stage (Matchday 4)

3-4 January 2025

CR Belouizdad – Al Ahly
Referee: Omar Artan (SOM, photo)

Al Hilal – MC Alger
Referee: Ibrahim Traore (CIV)

AS Far – Maniema Union
Referee: Georges Gatogato (BDI)

Raja Casablanca – Mamelodi Sundowns
Referee: Abdel Bouh (MTN)

Sagrada Esperanca – Djoliba
Referee: Mustapha Kechaf (MAR)

Pyramids – ES Tunis
Referee: Messie Nkounkou (CGO)

Young Africans – TP Mazembe
Referee: Ahmad Heeralall (MRI)

Orlando Pirates – Stade d'Abidjan
Referee: Peter Waweru (KEN)

FP World’s Best Futsal Referee 2024: Martinez Flores (ESP)

Winner
Alejandro Martinez Flores (ESP)


Nominations (alphabetical order)
Fahad Al-Hosani (UAE)
Damian Grabowski (POL)
Aymen Kammoun (TUN)
Roberto Lopez (PAN)
Antony Riley (NZL)
Daniel Rodriguez (URU)
Anelize Schulz (BRA)
Ryan Shepeard (AUS)
Dejan Veselic (SVN)

Source: FutsalPlanet

ASEAN Championship Final 2024

First Leg, 2 January 2025

Vietnam – Thailand
Referee: Salman Falahi (QAT, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Zahy Al-Shamari (QAT)
Assistant Referee 2: Khaled Khalaf (QAT)
Fourth Official: Mohd Tuan (MAS)
VAR: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN)
AVAR: Du Jianxin (CHN)

Second Leg, 5 January 2025

Thailand – Vietnam

Referee: Ko Hyung-Jin (KOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Park Sang-Jun (KOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Kang Dong-Ho (KOR)
Fourth Official: Thoriq Alkatiri (IDN)
VAR: Choi Hyun-Jae (KOR)
AVAR: Du Jianxin (CHN)

IFFHS World’s Best Referee 2024: Letexier (FRA)

At 35 years old, François Letexier has become IFFHS World’s Best Referee 2024 due to his leading figure in World refereeing, entrusted with officiating prestigious matches at both national and European level. He was appointed by UEFA to referee the EURO 2024 final Spain – England in July and the most important games in Champions League Liverpool – Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund - FC Barcelona, where he well controlled high intensity games with outstanding performances. He won sovereignly the 2024 ranking before Slovenian Slavko Vincic, chosen for the UEFA Champions League final and Italian Daniele Orsato, winner of the IFFHS Award in 2021. The other French referee, Clement Turpin (third last year), took 4th place before Michael Oliver and Felix Zwayer. IFFHS Awards 2022 and 2023 winner Szymon Marciniak was ranked 7th, before Anthony Taylor, the second English referee in the ranking. Brazilian referees Raphael Claus and Wilton Sampaio completed the World’s Top 10. (Source: IFFHS)

IFFHS World's Best Referees 2024 
1. François Letexier (FRA, photo) 129p
2. Slavko Vincic (SVN) 86p
3. Daniele Orsato (ITA) 74p
4. Clement Turpin (FRA) 47p
5. Michael Oliver (ENG) 42p
6. Felix Zwayer (GER) 41p
7. Szymon Marciniak (POL) 31p
8. Anthony Taylor (ENG) 28p
9. Raphael Claus (BRA) 25p
10. Wilton Sampaio (BRA) 13p

IFFHS World’s Best Woman Referee 2024: Welch (ENG)

After 5 consecutive IFFHS Awards, Stephanie Frappart only took the second place in 2024, beaten by England’s Rebecca Welch, crowned as Women’s World Best Referee 2024. It was very close between the two referees (118 – 104), but Rebecca Welch made the difference by directing the UEFA Champions League final and being regular all year in her performances. Frappart didn't beat the record of Pierluigi Collina (6 consecutive World's Best Referee Awards). Sweden’s Tess Olofsson completed the podium with 94 points, before US referee Tori Penso (second last year) and a newcomer, Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi, jumping on 5th place. If the UEFA is represented on the podium, all other confederations are in the Top 10, CONCACAF with Penso and Garcia, CONMEBOL with Alves, AFC with Yamashita and CAF with Karboubi and Mukansanga. (Source: IFFHS)

IFFHS World's Best Women Referees 2024
1. Rebecca Welch (ENG, photo) 118p
2. Stephanie Frappart (FRA) 104p
3. Tess Olofsson (SWE) 94p
4. Tori Penso (USA) 31p
5. Bouchra Karboubi (MAR) 27p
6. Katia Garcia (MEX) 19p
7. Edina Alves (BRA) 15p
8. Yoshimi Yamashita (JPN) 14p
9. Salima Mukansanga (RWA) 10p
10. Marta Huerta De Aza (ESP) 8p

Turkish referee reportedly removed from FIFA List for getting pregnant

A controversial decision by the Turkish Central Referee Committee (MHK) to remove Gamze Durmus Pakkan, a UEFA First Category referee, from the FIFA referee list due to her pregnancy has sparked outrage across the football world.
UEFA has condemned the move, calling it a setback for gender equality in sports, while critics pointed out the implications for women’s careers in male-dominated fields. Gamze Durmus Pakkan’s removal makes her the only referee in Europe reportedly excluded from the FIFA list because of pregnancy. UEFA, through Dagmar Damkova, a member of its Referees Committee responsible for women referees, expressed disbelief over the decision, saying “I can’t believe it. How is removing a referee from the list due to pregnancy any different from being fired from a job?” The decision has derailed Durmus Pakkan’s career, as she now faces the prospect of reapplying from the lowest category, delaying her progression to the Elite category by at least three years. Observers have pointed to UEFA’s contrasting approach to Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan, who was allowed to retain his Elite category status after being inactive for 18 months due to a heart attack. Critics argue that Pakkan’s position should have been frozen rather than revoked.
Durmus Pakkan’s case shed light on issues regarding gender equality in sports. In a 2023 interview, she spoke about the intense scrutiny women referees face, stating, “We don’t have the luxury to make mistakes; we always must manage matches well. When male referees make mistakes, they are tolerated or expected to improve, but that’s not the case for women referees.” The controversy has affected her family as well. Her husband, referee Burak Pakkan, has reportedly faced retaliation, and the family has received threats discouraging them from speaking publicly. UEFA continues to push for Gamze Durmus Pakkan’s reinstatement, emphasising the need for fairer policies to ensure that women in sports can pursue their careers without penalty for personal milestones like pregnancy. The case has prompted widespread calls for systemic reforms to support women in balancing personal and professional commitments in male-dominated fields.

Source: Pulse Sports

Arabian Gulf Cup 2024

Kuwait, 21 December 2024 - 4 January 2025

Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (KUW, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Abdulhadi Al-Anezi (KUW)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmad Abbas (KUW)

Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (BHR)
Assistant Referee 1: Abdulla Al-Rowaimi (BHR)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohamed Salman (BHR)

Referee: Mohanad Sarray (IRQ)
Assistant Referee 1: Watheq Al-Swaiedi (IRQ)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Al-Baghdadi (IRQ)

Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi (OMA)
Assistant Referee 1: Nasser Al-Busaidi (OMA)
Assistant Referee 2: Hamed Al-Ghafer (OMA)

Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (QAT)
Assistant Referee 1: Taleb Al-Marri (QAT)
Assistant Referee 2: Saoud Al-Maqaleh (QAT)

Referee: Khalid Al-Turais (KSA)
Assistant Referee 1: Mohammed Al-Abakry (KSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Abdelraheem Al-Shammari (KSA)

Referee: Omar Al-Ali (UAE)
Assistant Referee 1: Jasem Al-Ali (UAE)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE)

CAF Referee Exchange
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG)
Assistant Referee 1: Mokrane Gourari (ALG)
Assistant Referee 2: Abbes Zerhouni (ALG)

Referee: Dahane Beida (MTN)
Assistant Referee 1: Brahim Hmade (MTN)
Assistant Referee 2: Youssouf Yahia (MTN)

UEFA Referee Exchange
Referee: Istvan Kovacs (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Mihai Marica (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Ferencz Tunyogi (ROU)

Referee: Halil Meler (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Kerem Ersoy (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Ibrahim Uyarcan (TUR)

Video Match Officials
1. Fu Ming (CHN)
2. Ahmed Rustam (IRQ)
3. Jumpei Iida (JPN)
4. Abdullah Jamali (KUW)
5. Khamis Al-Marri (QAT)
6. Abdullah Al-Shahri (KSA)
7. Mohammad Obaid (UAE)
8. Mahmoud Ashour (EGY) - CAF
9. Haythem Guirat (TUN) - CAF

UEFA Referee Categories - Second half of the season 2024/2025

Men

Elite (30)
Irfan Peljto (BIH, 1984), Michael Oliver (ENG, 1985), Anthony Taylor (ENG, 1978), Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP, 1984), Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez (ESP, 1982), Jose Sanchez Martinez (ESP, 1983), Benoît Bastien (FRA, 1983), Francois Letexier (FRA, 1989), Clement Turpin (FRA, 1982), Daniel Siebert (GER, 1984), Tobias Stieler (GER, 1981), Felix Zwayer (GER, 1981), Anastasios Sidiropoulos (GRE, 1979), Orel Grinfeeld (ISR, 1981), Marco Guida (ITA, 1981), Maurizio Mariani (ITA, 1982), Davide Massa (ITA, 1981), Serdar Gözübüyük (NED, 1985), Danny Makkelie (NED, 1983), Espen Eskas (NOR, 1988), Szymon Marciniak (POL, 1981), Joao Pinheiro (POR, 1988), Istvan Kovacs (ROU, 1984), Sergei Karasev (RUS, 1979), Srdjan Jovanovic (SRB, 1986), Sandro Schärer (SUI, 1988), Ivan Kruzliak (SVK, 1984), Slavko Vincic (SVN, 1979), Glenn Nyberg (SWE, 1988), Halil Meler (TUR, 1986).

First Category (58)
Enea Jorgji (ALB), Juxhin Xhaja (ALB), Sebastian Gishamer (AUT), Julian Weinberger (AUT), Aliyar Aghayev (AZE), Elchin Masiyev (AZE), Erik Lambrechts (BEL), Lawrence Visser (BEL), Georgi Kabakov (BUL), Igor Pajac (CRO), Duje Strukan (CRO), Ondrej Berka (CZE), Jakob Kehlet (DEN), Morten Krogh (DEN), John Brooks (ENG), Christopher Kavanagh (ENG), Ricardo De Burgos Bengoechea (ESP), Juan Martinez Munuera (ESP), Kristo Tohver (EST), Mohammed Al-Emara (FIN), Jerome Brisard (FRA), Willy Delajod (FRA), Stephanie Frappart (FRA), Goga Kikacheishvili (GEO), Giorgi Kruashvili (GEO), Sven Jablonski (GER), Harm Osmers (GER), Sascha Stegemann (GER), Vasileios Fotias (GRE), Anastasios Papapetrou (GRE), Balazs Berke (HUN), Tamas Bognar (HUN), Yigal Frid (ISR), Simone Sozza (ITA), Manfredas Lukjancukas (LTU), Donatas Rumsas (LTU), Andris Treimanis (LVA), Nikola Dabanovic (MNE), Allard Lindhout (NED), Sander van der Eijk (NED), Rohit Saggi (NOR), Pawel Raczkowski (POL), Damian Sylwestrzak (POL), Luis Godinho (POR), Antonio Nobre (POR), Marian Barbu (ROU), Horatiu Fesnic (ROU), Radu Petrescu (ROU), Sergei Ivanov (RUS), John Beaton (SCO), Nicholas Walsh (SCO), Nenad Minakovic (SRB), Urs Schnyder (SUI), Filip Glova (SVK), Matej Jug (SVN), Rade Obrenovic (SVN), Mohammed Al-Hakim (SWE), Mykola Balakin (UKR).

Second Category (206)
Eldorjan Hamiti (ALB), Florian Lata (ALB), Antoine Chiaramonti (AND), Luis Teixeira (AND), Artem Gasparyan (ARM), Ashot Ghaltakhchyan (ARM), Zaven Hovhannisyan (ARM), Henrik Nalbandyan (ARM), Walter Altmann (AUT), Christian Ciochirca (AUT), Stefan Ebner (AUT), Alan Kijas (AUT), Jakob Semler (AUT), Kamal Umudlu (AZE), Simon Bourdeaud'hui (BEL), Lothar D’Hondt (BEL), Bram Van Driessche (BEL), Nathan Verboomen (BEL), Jasper Vergoote (BEL), Antoni Bandic (BIH), Luka Bilbija (BIH), Milos Gigovic (BIH), Dzmitry Dzmitryieu (BLR), Amine Kourgheli (BLR), Anton Lashuk (BLR), Viktar Shymusik (BLR), Volen Chinkov (BUL), Dragomir Draganov (BUL), Radoslav Gidzhenov (BUL), Georgi Ginchev (BUL), Nikola Popov (BUL), Dario Bel (CRO), Ante Culina (CRO), Mateo Erceg (CRO), Patrik Kolaric (CRO), Ivana Martincic (CRO), Menelaos Antoniou (CYP), Kyriakos Athanasiou (CYP), Konstantinos Fellas (CYP), Chrysovalantis Theouli (CYP), Dalibor Černy (CZE), Marek Radina (CZE), Karel Rouček (CZE), Dominik Stary (CZE), Ladislav Szikszay (CZE), Jakob Carlsen (DEN), Mads-Kristoffer Kristoffersen (DEN), Sandi Putros (DEN), Mikkel Redder (DEN), Jakob Sundberg (DEN), Stuart Attwell (ENG), Samuel Barrott (ENG), Darren England (ENG), Jarred Gillett (ENG), Robert Jones (ENG), Andrew Madley (ENG), Javier Alberola Rojas (ESP), Guillermo Cuadra Fernandez (ESP), Alejandro Muniz Ruiz (ESP), Jose Munuera Montero (ESP), Cesar Soto Grado (ESP), Joonas Jaanovits (EST), Karl Koppel (EST), Joni Hyytia (FIN), Oliver Reitala (FIN), Peiman Simani (FIN), Bastien Dechepy (FRA), Romain Lissorgue (FRA), Jeremie Pignard (FRA), Mathieu Vernice (FRA), Eric Wattellier (FRA), Johan Ellefsen (FRO), Heini Vidoy (FRO), Aleko Aptsiauri (GEO), Giorgi Avazashvili (GEO), Florian Badstübner (GER), Matthias Jöllenbeck (GER), Daniel Schlager (GER), Robert Schroder (GER), Seth Sheehan-Galia (GIB), Ioannis Papadopoulos (GRE), Alexandros Tsakalidis (GRE), Christos Vergetis (GRE), Gergo Bogar (HUN), Bence Csonka (HUN), Mihaly Kapraly (HUN), Marton Rusz (HUN), Robert Harvey (IRL), Robert Hennessy (IRL), Paul McLaughlin (IRL), Kevin O'Sullivan (IRL), Helgi Jonasson (ISL), Johann Jonsson (ISL), Ivar Kristjansson (ISL), Vilhjalmur Thorarinsson (ISL), David Fuxman (ISR), Gal Leibovitz (ISR), Gal Levi (ISR), Snir Levi (ISR), Daniele Chiffi (ITA), Andrea Colombo (ITA), Maria Ferrieri Caputi (ITA), Matteo Marcenaro (ITA), Matteo Marchetti (ITA), Fabio Maresca (ITA), Luca Pairetto (ITA), Sayat Karabayev (KAZ), Rustam Omarov (KAZ), Daniyar Sakhi (KAZ), Bulat Sariyev (KAZ), Mervan Bejtullahu (KOS), Visar Kastrati (KOS), Genc Nuza (KOS), Robertas Valikonis (LTU), Jeremy Muller (LUX), Jasmin Sabotic (LUX), Ivo Torres (LUX), Edgars Malcevs (LVA), Vitalijs Spasjonnikovs (LVA), Igor Boşca (MDA), Roman Jitari (MDA), Dumitru Muntean (MDA), Ion Orlic (MDA), Vlatko Ilioski (MKD), Jovan Kachevski (MKD), Ivana Projkovska (MKD), Igor Stojčevski (MKD), Ishmael Barbara (MLT), Matthew De Gabriele (MLT), Philip Farrugia (MLT), Trustin Farrugia Cann (MLT), Miloš Bošković (MNE), Miloš Savovic (MNE), Dennis Higler (NED), Joey Kooij (NED), Marc Nagtegaal (NED), Tim Marschall (NIR), Benjamin McMaster (NIR Ian McNabb (NIR), Jamie Robinson (NIR), Mohammad Aslam (NOR), Marius Grotta (NOR), Kristoffer Hagenes (NOR), Daniel Higraff (NOR), Sigurd Kringstad (NOR), Patryk Gryckiewicz (POL, 1995), Damian Kos (POL), Lukasz Kuzma (POL), Wojciech Myć (POL), Gustavo Correia (POR), Joao Gonçalves (POR), Miguel Nogueira (POR), Tiago Martins (POR), Claudio Pereira (POR), Fabio Verissimo (POR), Andrei Chivulete (ROU), Iuliana Demetrescu (ROU), Szabolcs Kovacs (ROU), Rares Vidican (ROU), Sergey Cheban (RUS), Evgeni Kukuliak (RUS), Kirill Levnikov (RUS), Artem Liubimov (RUS), Vitali Meshkov (RUS), Vladimir Moskalev (RUS), Pavel Shadykhanov (RUS), David Dickinson (SCO), Ross Hardie (SCO), Matthew MacDermid (SCO), Donald Robertson (SCO), Michele Beltrano (SMR), Pavle Ilić (SRB), Milos Milanovic (SRB), Danilo Nikolić (SRB), Novak Simovic (SRB), Luca Cibelli (SUI), Alessandro Dudic (SUI), Lukas Fähndrich (SUI), Lionel Tschudi (SUI), Sven Wolfensberger (SUI), Martin Dohal (SVK), Peter Kralovic (SVK), Michal Ocenas (SVK), Martin Matoša (SVN), David Šmajc (SVN), Oscar Johnson (SWE), Kristoffer Karlsson (SWE), Adam Ladebäck (SWE), Granit Maqedonci (SWE), Joakim Östling (SWE), Oguzhan Çakir (TUR), Attila Karaoglan (TUR), Arda Kardesler (TUR), Zorbay Küçük (TUR), Kadir Saglam (TUR), Mehmet Türkmen (TUR), Oleksii Derevinskyi (UKR), Viktor Kopiievskyi (UKR), Dmytro Kubriak (UKR), Dmytro Panchyshyn (UKR), Denys Shurman (UKR), Klym Zabroda (UKR), Cheryl Foster (WAL), Iwan Griffith (WAL), Aaron Jones (WAL), Thomas Owen (WAL).

Women

Elite (23)
Ivana Martincic (CRO, 1985), Jana Adamkova (CZE, 1978), Frida Klarlund (DEN, 1989), Marta Huerta De Aza (ESP, 1990), Olatz Rivera Olmedo (ESP, 1996), Lina Lehtovaara (FIN, 1981), Stephanie Frappart (FRA, 1983), Riem Hussein (GER, 1980), Eleni Antoniou (GRE, 1985), Katalin Kulcsar (HUN, 1984), Maria Ferrieri Caputi (ITA, 1990), Silvia Gasperotti (ITA, 1993), Ivana Projkovska (MKD, 1986), Ewa Augustyn (POL, 1989), Sandra Bastos (POR, 1978), Catarina Campos (POR, 1985), Iuliana Demetrescu (ROU, 1990), Alina Pesu (ROU, 1989), Lorraine Watson (SCO, 1985), Jelena Cvetkovic (SRB, 1991), Desiree Grundbacher (SUI, 1983), Tess Olofsson (SWE, 1988), Cheryl Foster (WAL, 1980).

First Category (46)
Emanuela Rusta (ALB), Olivia Tschon (AUT), Merima Celik (BIH), Volha Blotskaya (BLR), Caroline Lanssens (BEL), Galiya Echeva (BUL), Kristina Georgieva (BUL), Hristiana Guteva (BUL), Sabina Bolic (CRO), Jelena Pejkovic (CRO), Veronika Kovarova (CZE), Michaela Pachtova (CZE), Lucie Sulcova (CZE), Nanna Andersen (DEN), Abigail Byrne (ENG), Kirsty Dowle (ENG), Ainara Acevedo Dudley (ESP), Minka Vekkeli (FIN), Lotta Vuorio (FIN), Victoria Beyer (FRA), Alexandra Collin (FRA), Maika Vanderstichel (FRA), Fabienne Michel (GER), Angelika Soeder (GER), Karoline Wacker (GER), Franziska Wildfeuer (GER), Reka Molnar (HUN), Katalin Sipos (HUN), Deborah Bianchi (ITA), Maria Marotta (ITA), Elvira Nurmustafina (KAZ), Rasa Grigone (LTU), Shona Shukrula (NED), Lizzy van der Helm (NED), Henrikke Nervik (NOR), Michalina Diakow (POL), Katarzyna Lisiecka-Sek (POL), Ana Terteleac (ROU), Vera Opeikina (RUS), Jelena Medjedovic (SRB), Marina Živković (SRB), Deborah Anex (SUI), Michele Schmolzer (SUI), Miriama Bockova (SVK), Zuzana Valentova (SVK), Aleksandra Cesen (SVN).

Second Category (74)
Eglantina Pjetrushaj (ALB), Marta San Juan Casado (AND), Araksya Saribekyan (ARM), Sofik Torosyan (ARM), Kathrin Huber (AUT), Sara Telek (AUT), Marina Zechner (AUS), Farida Lutfaliyeva (AZE), Jana Van Laere (BEL), Vesna Miletic (BIH), Jelena Kumer (CRO), Ioanna Allaylotou (CYP), Zoe Stavrou (CYP), Frederikke Sokjaer (DEN), Melissa Burgin (ENG), Emily Heaslip (ENG), Stacey Pearson (ENG), Elisabeth Calvo Valentin (ESP), Eugenia Gil Soriano (ESP), Reelika Turi (EST), Satu Miettunen (FIN), Audrey Gerbel (FRA), Mzevinari Sharashanidze (GEO), Teona Sturua (GEO), Anastasia Mylopoulou (GRE), Eirini Pingiou (GRE), Andromachi Tsiofliki (GRE), Eszter Urban (HUN), Briet Bragadottir (ISL), Sapir Berman (ISR), Mariia Glekova (ISR), Martina Molinaro (ITA), Tatiana Sorokopudova (KAZ), Rita Vehapi (KOS), Jurgita Macikunyte (LTU), Ugne Smitaite (LTU), Jeļena Jermolajeva (LVA), Tatjana Lavrentika (LVA), Oxana Cruc (MDA), Elena Gobjila (MDA), Irena Velevackoska-Ristevski (MKD), Joanna Vassallo (MLT), Wendy Gijsbers (NED), Marisca Overtoom (NED), Louise Thompson (NIR), Karoline Jensen (NOR), Emilie Torkelsen (NOR), Sarah Zangeneh (NOR), Anna Adamska (POL), Sara Alves (POR), Filipa Cunha (POR), Teresa Oliveira (POR), Roxana Timis (ROU), Karina Afanaseva (RUS), Nadezhda Gorinova (RUS), Marina Krupskaya (RUS), Alexandra Ponomareva (RUS), Abbie Hendry (SCO), Milica Milovanović (SRB), Laura Mauricio (SUI), Vanja Jankovic (SVN), Tjasa Misja (SVN), Lovisa Johansson (SWE), Hanna Laajanen (SWE), Maral Mirzai (SWE), Asen Albayrak (TUR), Hatice Aydin (TUR), Melek Dakan (TUR), Cansu Tiryaki (TUR), Kristina Kozoroh (UKR), Sofiya Prychyna (UKR), Anastasiya Romanyuk (UKR), Liudmyla Telbukh (UKR), Charlotte Carpenter (WAL).

Futsal

Elite (36)
Vedran Babic (CRO, 1987), Nikola Jelic (CRO, 1982), Yiangos Yiangou (CYP), Ondrej Cerny (CZE, 1979), David Nissen (DEN, 1986), Peter Nurse (ENG), Juan Cordero Gallardo (ESP, 1978), Pablo Delgado Sastre (ESP), Alejandro Martinez Flores (ESP, 1977), David Urdanoz Apezteguia (ESP, 1979), Grigori Osomkov (EST, 1985), Arttu Kyynaeraeinen (FIN, 1985), Victor Chaix (FRA, 1985), Julien Lang (FRA), Nicola Manzione (ITA, 1983), Chiara Perona (ITA, 1987), Dominykas Norkus (LTU), Viktor Bugenko (MDA), Lars Van Leeuwen (NED), Dag Tangvik (NOR, 1997), Telmen Undrakh (NOR), Damian Grabowski (POL, 1991), Miguel Castilho (POR, 1981), Cristiano Santos (POR, 1989), Ruben Santos (POR), Vlad Ciobanu (ROU), Bogdan Hanceariuc (ROU), Irina Velikanova (RUS, 1980), Petar Radojcic (SRB, 1981), Daniel Matkovic (SUI, 1989), David Schaerli (SUI), Ales Mocnik Peric (SVN, 1986), Dejan Veselic (SVN, 1986), Kamil Cetin (TUR, 1984), Denys Kutsyi (UKR, 1986), Mariia Myslovska (UKR, 1990).

First Category (41)
Hikmat Qafarli (AZE), Jiri Bergs (BEL), Juan Boelen (BEL), Volha Pauliuts (BLR), Trayan Enchev (BUL), Kaloyan Kirilov (BUL), Mislav Dzeko (CRO), Dino Kramar (CRO), Radim Cep (CZE), Jan Kresta (CZE), Martin Koster (DEN), Javier Moreno Reina (ESP), Kirill Naishouler (FIN), Maximilian Alkofer (GER), Vasileios Christodoulis (GRE), Norbert Szilagyi (HUN), Giulio Colombin (ITA), Dario Pezzuto (ITA), Aslan Galayev (KAZ), Besar Beqiri (KOS), Besart Ismajli (KOS), Ingus Purins (LVA), Marjan Mladenovski (MKD), Done Ristovski (MKD), Stephen Vella (MLT), Ibrahim El Jilali (NED), Joern Te Kloeze (NED), Monica Czudzinovicz (POL), Filipe Duarte (POR), Daniele D’Adamo (SMR), Nikola Rabrenovic (SRB), Darko Boskovic (SUI), Rastislav Behancin (SVK), Lukas Pesko (SVK), Admir Zahovic (SVN), Ademir Avdic (SWE), David Glavonjic (SWE), George Jansizian (SWE), Ugur Cakmak (TUR), Hakan Tezcan (TUR), Fatma Tursun (TUR).

Second Category (95)
Arlind Subashi (ALB), Gevorg Yeghoyan (ARM), Daniel Stauber (AUT), Manuel Wolf (AUT), Knyaz Amiraslanov (AZE), Ali Jabrayilov (AZE), Amine El Hilali (BEL), Stijn Lehembre (BEL), Farik Keco (BIH), Vedran Marcinko (BIH), Nikola Tadic (BIH), Aliaksandr Auramau (BLR), Maryia Kacheyeva (BLR), Yahueni Zhalabkou (BLR), Ivan Ivanov (BUL), Aleksandar Vangelov (BUL), Marijana Orešić (CRO), Michalis Christofides (CYP), Nicolas Nicolaou (CYP), Theocharis Theocharous (CYP), Filip Nesnera (CZE), Alice Vevodova (CZE), Daniel Sorensen (DEN), Oliver Ballinger (ENG), Jordan Griffiths (ENG), Sara Gutierrez Echeverria (ESP), Noelia Gutierrez Munoz (ESP), Diego Martinez Garcia (ESP), Jagnar Jakobson (EST), Paavo Kompaa (FIN), Maria Tuomi (FIN), Adrien Crumois (FRA), Jordan Faltesse (FRA), Bryan Francois (FRA), Zviad Bliadze (GEO), Jacob Pawlowski (GER), Sven Schreiber (GER), Zyl Sheriff (GIB), Antonios Adamopoulos (GRE), Panagiotis Ntalas (GRE), Adam Czene-Joo (HUN), David Juhasz (HUN), Annamaria Tolnay (HUN), Peter Zimonyi (HUN), Alan Patchell (IRL), Raafat Al Hamola (ISR), Idan Berenshtein (ISR), Ofer Grosfeld (ISR), Martina Piccolo (ITA), Simone Zanfino (ITA), Giovanni Zannola (ITA), Nurlybek Kalimaganbetov (KAZ), Turekhan Tursumbayev (KAZ), Florentina Kallaba (KOS), Irmantas Kaprasovas (LTU), Mantas Pomeckis (LTU), Igors Jacevics (LVA), Sergejs Sacmans (LVA), Monika Dashtevska (MKD), Dejan Mladenovski (MKD), Danilo Francalanza (MLT), Andrea Naudi (MLT), Vladimir Sebek (MNE), Drazen Vuckevic (MNE), Jacob Van Dijke (NED), Dominik Cipinski (POL), Slawomir Steczko (POL), Pawel Tokarewicz (POL), Pedro Costa (POR), Rita Ferraz (POR), Filipa Prata (POR), Liviu Chita (ROU), Laurentiu Deaconu (ROU), Tatiana Boltneva (RUS), Vitali Groshev (RUS), Ilya Pogonin (RUS), Evgeny Sergeev (RUS), Gordon McCabe (SCO), Laurentiu Ilie (SMR), Bojan Graovac (SRB), Jasmina Mickoska (SRB), Srdjan Mihajlovic (SRB), Emilie Aubry (SUI), Emanuele Karbala (SUI), Peter Budac (SVK), Martin Matula (SVK), Doroteja Music (SVN), Jernej Petek (SVN), Kastriot Gerxhaliu (SWE), Ayberg Oz (TUR), Orest Dutsiak (UKR), Yevhen Hordiienko (UKR), Sviatoslav Kliuchnyk (UKR), Vasilica Ciuplea (WAL), Elwyn Parry (WAL).

UEFA: Referees Mariani and Pinheiro promoted to Elite

The UEFA Referees Committee approved the referee categories for the second half of the season 2024/2025. The changes take effect on 1 January 2025.


Men

Retired from Elite: Aleksei Kulbakov (BLR, 1979), Daniele Orsato (ITA, 1975), Artur Soares Dias (POR, 1979), Ovidiu Hategan (ROU, 1980), William Collum (SCO, 1979).

Promoted from First Category to Elite: Maurizio Mariani (ITA, 1982), Joao Pinheiro (POR, 1988, photo).

Retired/removed from First Category: Harald Lechner (AUT, 1982), Marco Di Bello (ITA, 1981), Aleksandar Stavrev (MKD, 1977), Bartosz Frankowski (POL, 1986), Andreas Ekberg (SWE, 1985).

Promoted from Second Category to First Category: Elchin Masiyev (AZE, 1991), Mohammed Al-Emara (FIN, 1992), Goga Kikacheishvili (GEO, 1991), Vasileios Fotias (GRE, 1989), Sander van der Eijk (NED, 1991).

Retired/removed from Second Category: Jonathan Lardot (BEL), Fran Jovic (CRO), Andreas Argyrou (CYP), Jan Petrik (CZE), Craig Pawson (ENG), Juri Frischer (EST), Ruddy Buquet (FRA), Pierre Gaillouste (FRA), Irakli Kvirikashvili (GEO), Bastian Dankert (GER), Christian Dingert (GER), Jason Barcelo (GIB), Aristotelis Diamantopoulos (GRE), Evangelos Manouchos (GRE), Istvan Vad (HUN), Thorvaldur Arnason (ISL), Roi Reinshreiber (ISR), Sivert Amland (NOR), Kai Steen (NOR), Daniel Stefanski (POL), Marcel Bîrsan (ROU), Vladislav Bezborodov (RUS), David Munro (SCO), Fedayi San (SUI), Abdulkadir Bitigen (TUR), Bahattin Şimşek (TUR), Vitaliy Romanov (UKR), Robert Jenkins (WAL).

New FIFA referees entered into Second Category: Artem Gasparyan (ARM, 1993), Jakob Semler (AUT, 1991), Simon Bourdeaud'hui (BEL, 1996), Anton Lashuk (BLR, 1992), Mateo Erceg (CRO, 1996), Konstantinos Fellas (CYP, 1990), Karel Rouček (CZE, 1996), Samuel Barrott (ENG, 1993), Karl Koppel (EST, 1994), Romain Lissorgue (FRA, 1991), Mathieu Vernice (FRA, 1993), Aleko Aptsiauri (GEO, 1990), Giorgi Avazashvili (GEO, 1988), Florian Badstübner (GER, 1991), Matthias Jöllenbeck (GER, 1987), Seth Sheehan-Galia (GIB, 1999), Alexandros Tsakalidis (GRE, 1993), Marton Rusz (HUN, 1994), Johann Jonsson (ISL, 1985), Gal Levi (ISR, 1988), Matteo Marcenaro (ITA, 1992), Matteo Marchetti (ITA, 1989), Igor Boşca (MDA, 1989), Vlatko Ilioski (MKD, 1993), Marius Grotta (NOR, 1992), Daniel Higraff (NOR, 1992), Patryk Gryckiewicz (POL, 1995), Wojciech Myc (POL, 1989), Joao Gonçalves (POR, 1991), Szabolcs Kovacs (ROU, 1988), Rares Vidican (ROU, 1988), Sergey Cheban (RUS, 1990), Ross Hardie (SCO, 1990), Sven Wolfensberger (SUI, 1989), Oscar Johnson (SWE, 1993), Oguzhan Çakir (TUR, 1998), Mehmet Türkmen (TUR, 1992), Klym Zabroda (UKR, 1991), Aaron Jones (WAL, 1990).

Women

Retired from Elite: Rebecca Welch (ENG, 1983), Monika Mularczyk (POL, 1980).

Promoted from First Category to Elite: Olatz Rivera Olmedo (ESP, 1996), Silvia Gasperotti (ITA, 1993), Desiree Grundbacher (SUI, 1983).

Retired/removed from First Category: Zulema Gonzalez Gonzalez (ESP, 1992), Justina Lavrenovaite-Perez (LTU, 1984), Silvia Domingos (POR, 1982), Gamze Durmuş Pakkan (TUR, 1994).

Promoted from Second Category to First Category: Olivia Tschon (AUT, 1994), Caroline Lanssens (BEL, 1990), Nanna Andersen (DEN, 1997), Maika Vanderstichel (FRA, 1994).

Retired/removed from Second Category: Triinu Vaher (EST), Ifeoma Kulmala (FIN), Meitar Shemesh (ISR), Melis Ozcigdem (TUR).

New FIFA referees entered into Second Category: Marta San Juan Casado (AND), Sara Telek (AUT), Melissa Burgin (ENG), Elisabeth Calvo Valentin (ESP), Satu Miettunen (FIN), Sapir Berman (ISR), Mariia Glekova (ISR), Tatjana Lavrentika (LVA), Anna Adamska (POL), Sara Alves (POR), Abbie Hendry (SCO), Hanna Laajanen (SWE), Asen Albayrak (TUR), Hatice Aydin (TUR), Liudmyla Telbukh (UKR).
 
Futsal
 
Retired from Elite: Stefan Vrijens (BEL, 1980), Marc Birkett (ENG, 1978), Cedric Pelissier (FRA, 1976), Gabor Kovacs (HUN, 1978), Eduardo Coelho (POR, 1979), Vladimir Kadykov (RUS, 1984).

Demoted from Elite to First Category: Kirill Naishouler (FIN, 1983).

Promoted from First Category to Elite: Arttu Kyynaeraeinen (FIN, 1985), Dag Tangvik (NOR, 1997), Mariia Myslovska (UKR, 1990).

Retired/removed from First Category: Talgat Kosmukhambetov (KAZ), Josip Barton (MKD), Grigori Zelentsov (RUS), Ozan Soycan (TUR).

Promoted from Second Category to First Category: Hikmat Qafarli (AZE), Jiri Bergs (BEL), Kaloyan Kirilov (BUL), Dino Kramar (CRO), Radim Cep (CZE), Nikola Rabrenovic (SRB), Hakan Tezcan (TUR).

Retired/removed from Second Category: Yasin Alageyik (BEL), Ivo Tsenov (BUL), Larisa Avramidou (CYP), Georgios Kozakos (CYP), Christian Gundler (GER), David Berry (IRL), Oliver Nikolić (SRB), Marco Rothenfluh (SUI).

New FIFA referees entered into Second Category: Amine El Hilali (BEL), Stijn Lehembre (BEL), Aleksandar Vangelov (BUL), Theocharis Theocharous (CYP), Jordan Griffiths (ENG), Diego Martinez Garcia (ESP), Adrien Crumois (FRA), Bryan Francois (FRA), Sven Schreiber (GER), David Juhasz (HUN), Alan Patchell (IRL), Igors Jacevics (LVA), Monika Dashtevska (MKD), Dejan Mladenovski (MKD), Danilo Francalanza (MLT), Vladimir Sebek (MNE), Pedro Costa (POR), Rita Ferraz (POR), Evgeny Sergeev (RUS), Bojan Graovac (SRB), Emilie Aubry (SUI), Emanuele Karbala (SUI), Ayberg Oz (TUR).