AFC Asian Cup 2023 – Group Stage (Matches 2-4)

13 January 2024

Australia – India
Referee: Yoshimi Yamashita (JPN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Makoto Bozono (JPN)
Assistant Referee 2: Naomi Teshirogi (JPN)
Fourth Official: Yusuke Araki (JPN)
Reserve AR: Jun Mihara (JPN)
VAR: Hiroyuki Kimura (JPN)
AVAR: Jumpei Iida (JPN)
Referee Assessor: Chia Eng Wah (SIN)

China – Tajikistan
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoish (KSA)
Assistant Referee 1: Khalaf Al-Shammari (KSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Yasir Al-Sultan (KSA)
Fourth Official: Nazmi Nasaruddin (MAS)
Reserve AR: Zairul Khalil Tan (MAS)
VAR: Khalid Al Turais (KSA)
AVAR: Abdullah Jamali (KUW)
Referee Assessor: Ismail Al-Hafi (JOR)

Uzbekistan – Syria
Referee: Ahmed Al Kaf (OMA)
Assistant Referee 1: Abu Al Amri (OMA)
Assistant Referee 2: Rashid Al Ghaithi (OMA)
Fourth Official: Mohanad Sarray (IRQ)
Reserve AR: Watheq Al Swaiedi (IRQ)
VAR: Khamis Al Marri (QAT)
AVAR: Salman Falahi (QAT)
Referee Assessor: Cheung Yim Yau (HKG)

AFC Asian Cup 2023 – Group Stage (Match 1)

The Asian Football Confederation confirmed the cast of match officials that will oversee the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, which will take place on Friday at the Lusail Stadium. Widely regarded as one of the most established Asian match officials, Alireza Faghani has been appointed to officiate the highly-anticipated Group A fixture between defending champions Qatar and Lebanon, which will kick off at 7pm in the 88,000-capacity venue and officially get the 18th edition of Asia’s crown jewel underway. Faghani will take charge of his 13th AFC Asian Cup match in his fourth appearance at the showpiece, having officiated as fourth official for four matches on his debut in 2011, refereed five matches in 2015 – including the final between Korea Republic and eventual winners Australia – and two in the 2019 edition. The AFC Referee of the Year in 2016 and 2018, Faghani embarked on his refereeing journey in 1994 and became a FIFA referee in 2008. He has demonstrated his prowess on the biggest stages in world football – a support referee at the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, Faghani was the man in the middle for four matches at the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, including the third place play-off between Belgium and England, before officiating two matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Faghani has also refereed at the 2013 and 2015 editions of the FIFA Club World Cup, the 2016 Olympic Games Men’s football tournament, including the gold medal match and the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017. At club level, he has taken charge of 66 AFC Champions League matches, including the 2014 final. (Source: AFC)

12 January 2024

Qatar – Lebanon

Referee: Alireza Faghani (AUS, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Anton Shchetinin (AUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Ashley Beecham (AUS)
Fourth Official: Ko Hyung-Jin (KOR)
Reserve AR: Yoon Jae-Yeol (KOR)
VAR: Shaun Evans (AUS)
AVAR: Kate Jacewicz (AUS)
Referee Assessor: Toru Kamikawa (JPN)

AFC Referee Assessment innovations at Asian Cup 2023

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s resolve to strengthen its position as a model confederation in developing world-class match officials was further underlined with the launch of the Refereeing Online Platform, in conjunction with the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. The latest milestone initiative equips Referee Assessors with a diverse array of tools, paving the way for a holistic enhancement of officiating standards in Asian football, whilst serving as a centralised platform for assessors to complete and submit their Referee Assessment Reports to ensure the highest professional standards. Live tested with the help of selected experts of the industry during the AFC Champions League 2023/24 Group Stage matches, a key feature of this initiative is the availability of full match videos which will allow the referee assessor to create incident clips and develop teaching material seamlessly within the platform. Aimed at thorough tracking of referees’ performances, the platform will also grant access to the Refereeing Directors of the AFC’s Member Associations, allowing them to track their match officials’ performances, reiterating the confederation’s commitment to ensure world-class standards of Asian refereeing.

Complementing the Refereeing Online Platform is the revamped Referee Assessment Report, which has been refurbished after careful consultation with some of the most renowned refereeing experts on the continent. The newly upgraded system strives to establish a fairer grading mechanism, to ensure that Match Officials receive a more accurate evaluation reflecting their overall performance on the pitch. The system was fine-tuned through offline tests conducted during the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023, which provided valuable insights and aided in refining it before being integrated with the new online platform. With the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 also witnessing the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system making its full debut, following its successful implementation from the quarter-final stage in 2019, as well as the introduction of the Semi-Automated Offside Technology, the Refereeing Online Platform and the upgraded Referee Assessment Report once again underscores the AFC's commitment to ensure its match officials are in the best possible environment to succeed on the ultimate Asian football stage.

Source: AFC

FIFA Lists 2024 Changes

2024 FIFA Match Officials: UEFA (1392), CAF (907), AFC (760), CONMEBOL (431), Concacaf (363), OFC (37)

Albania

Referees
Out: Mirela Cemeri (F)
In: Florian Lata (M), Eglantina Pjetrushaj (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Erind Burgu (M), Xhuljo Mani (M), Arber Zalla (M)

Algeria
Futsal
In: Warda Chanai (F)

Andorra
Assistant Referees
In: Carlos Braga (M), Luis Acosta (M)

Angola
Referees
In: Nelson Da Silva (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Pedro Micolo (M), Regina Bernardo (F)

Argentina
Referees
Out: Nicolas Lamolina (M, 1982), Fernando Rapallini (M, 1978)
In: Nazareno Arasa (M, 1991), Sebastian Zunino (M, 1988)

Assistant Referees
In: Pablo Acevedo (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Lucas Novelli (M)

Futsal
In: Luciana Petrella (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Juan Arcos (M)

Armenia
Assistant Referees
In: Gevorg Shakhkaldyan (M)

Australia
Referees
Out: Kate Jacewicz (F, 1985)
In: Benjamin Abraham (M), Isabella Blaess (F), Jack Morgan (M)

Assistant Referees
Out: Sarah Ho (F, 1978), Lance Greenshields (M), Nathan MacDonald (M, 1980)
In: Maddy Allum (F), Emma Kocbek (F), Andrew Meimarakis (M), Brad Wright (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Joanna Charaktis (F, 1994)

Futsal
Out: Darius Turner (M)
In: Nicholas Backo (M)

Austria
Referees
Out: Manuel Schüttengruber (M, 1983), Maria Ennsgraber (F)
In: Alan Kijas (M), Kathrin Huber (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Linda Thieme (F)

Azerbaijan
Referees
Out: Rauf Jabarov (M)
In: Kamal Umudlu (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Vusal Mammadov (M)

Bahamas
Beach Soccer
In: Annisa Albury (F)

Belarus
Referees
Out: Maryia Buiko (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Anton Gusev (M), Hanna Nalivaika (F)

Futsal
Out: Maksim Dzeikala (M), Anatol Ustsuizhanin (M)
In: Aliaksandr Auramau (M), Maryia Kacheyeva (F), Yahueni Zhalabkou (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Konstantin Pshonny (M)

Belgium
Referees
Out: Viki De Cremer (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Quentin Lesceux (M), Martijn Tiesters (M), Margot Jacobs (F)

Belize
Assistant Referees
In: Juan Colindres (M)

Benin
Referees
In: Hans Bassadin (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Salim Alao (M)

Bhutan
Referees
In: Ugyen Penjoy (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Hem Sunwar (M)

Bolivia
Referees
Out: Juan Garcia (M)
In: Javier Revollo (M)

Futsal
In: Alfredo Gutierrez (M), Gustavo Ortega (M)

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Referees
Out: Tanja Racic (F)
In: Vesna Miletic (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Amir Kadić (M), Stefan Tešanović (M)

Botswana
Referees
In: Thabang Ketsabile (M), Moemedi Thabologang (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Dorcus Chenset (F), Mooketsi Manjanku (M)

Brazil
Referees
Out: Wagner Magalhaes (M, 1979), Savio Sampaio (M, 1985)
In: Rodrigo Pereira (M, 1987), Rafael Klein (M, 1990)

Assistant Referees
In: Fernanda Kruger (F, 1992), Maira Mastella (F, 1992)

Video Match Officials
Out: Rafael Traci (M, 1981)
In: Diego Pombo (M, 1986)

Futsal
In: Juliana Angelo (F), Guilherme Schwinden (M)

Bulgaria
Referees
Out: Georgi Davidov (M)
In: Georgi Ginchev (M)

Burkina Faso
Assistant Referees
In: Korotoum Ballo (F)

Burundi
Referees
In: Joselyne Nsabimana (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Anitha Niyokindi (F)

Cabo Verde
Referees
In: Leonidas Barbosa (M)

Cambodia
Assistant Referees
In: Moeurn Thy (M)

Cameroon
Referees
In: Willy Ngah (M), Shadrack Tanyi (M), Innocentia Ntangti (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Henri Etoa (M), Yero Maazou (M), Adeline Djonreba (F)

Canada
Referees
In: Filip Dujic (M, 1994)

Assistant Referees
In: Gerard Lebuis (M, 1991)

Video Match Officials
Out: Carol Anne Chenard (F, 1977)
In: Pierre-Luc Lauziere (M, 1985)

Central African Republic
Referees
In: Bodoin Maina (M), Leticia Kenga (F)

Chad
Referees
In: Service Neleko (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Guedbe Florent (M), Ali Hatoup (M)

Chile
Referees
Out: Eduardo Gamboa (M)
In: Juan Lara (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Yasna Moreno (F),

Video Match Officials
In: Victor Abarzua (M), Miguel Araos (M), Juan Sepulveda (M)

China
Referees
In: Jianxin Du (M), Mingxin Mu (F)

Chinese Taipei
Assistant Referees
In: Chen Yang (F)

Colombia
Referees
In: Danna Victorino (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Cristian Aguirre (M), Roberto Padilla (M), Javier Patino (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Keiner Jimenez (M)

Futsal
In: Nataly Giraldo (F), Naudy Jimenez (F), Yendis Montalvo (F)

Comoros
Referees
In: Ali Akoub (M)

Congo DR
Referees
In: Louis Mwamba (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Marie Kahambu (F), Archange Matalatala (M), Gradel Mbilizi (M), Jospin Mumbere (M), Elaeis Tomakwiza (F)

Costa Rica
Referees
In: Steven Madrigal (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Diego Salazar (M)

Cote d’Ivoire
Beach Soccer
In: Martin Konan (M), Jean Koutou (M)

Croatia
Assistant Referees
In: Ivan Janić (M)

Futsal
In: Marijana Orešić (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Luka Kovac (M)

Cuba
Referees
In: Modesto Hierrezuelo (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Alejandro Sese (M)

Futsal
In: Julio Pascual (M), Yordanka Pouyoux (F)

Czechia
Referees
Out: Tomaš Klima (M), Jan Machalek (M)
In: Dalibor Černy (M), Ladislav Szikszay (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Lukaš Matoušek (M), Michal Volf (M)

Denmark
Referees
Out: Peter Kjaersgaard (M)
In: Jakob Karlsen (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Martin Markus (M), Anna Schmidt (F)

Video Match Officials
In: Jonas Hansen (M)

Dominican Republic
Referees
In: Jose Corporan (M), Estefania Diaz (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Ydekel Capellan (M), George Santana (M)

Futsal
In: Nixon Merisie (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Yimani Diaz (M)

Ecuador
Referees
Out: Fraklin Congo (M), Luis Quiroz (M), Roberto Sanchez (M)
In: Robert Cabrera (M), Anthony Diaz (M), Yerson Zambrano (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Mauricio Lozada (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Gabriel Gonzalez (M), Jefferson Macias (M), Kevin Pazmino (M)

Futsal
In: Jenniffer Moran (F)

Egypt
Beach Soccer
In: Khaled El-Sayed (M)

El Salvador
Referees
In: Jose Garcia (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Elizabeth Aguilar (F), Oscar Barrera (M)

England
Referees
Out: Lisa Benn (F)
In: Emily Heaslip (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Georgia Ball (F), Nicoleta Bria (F), Sophie Dennington (F), James Mainwaring (M)

Equatorial Guinea
Referees
In: Gerson Angomo (M), Antimo Avomo (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Juan Nguema (M)

Estonia
Assistant Referees
In: Liisa Liesment (F)

Eswatini
Assistant Referees
In: Celumusa Phiti (M)

Ethiopia
Referees
In: Ephrame Debele (M), Marta Melese (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Ashebr Tafesse (F)

Faroe Islands
Referees
Out: Kari a Hovdanum (M)
In: Heini Vidoy (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Jogvan Breckmann (M)

Fiji
Referees
In: Torika Delai (FIJ)

Finland
Referees
Out: Antti Munukka (M), Petri Viljanen (M)
In: Peiman Simani (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Christian De Casseres (M), Samu Koskinen (M), Taru Tiensuu (F)

France
Referees
Out: Karim Abed (M, 1988), Benoit Millot (M, 1982)
In: Bastien Dechepy (M, 1985), Eric Wattellier (M, 1987)

Assistant Referees
In: Berenguere Jourdain (F), Melissa Rossignol (F)

Gabon
Referees
In: Josy Mezui (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Florina Ndoue (F)

Gambia
Referees
In: Abdallah Jammeh (M)

Georgia
Referees
In: Mzevinari Sharashanidze (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Sopo Tsulaia (F)

Video Match Officials
In: Aleko Aptsiauri (M), Giorgi Avazashvili (M)

Germany
Assistant Referees
Out: Katrin Rafalski (F, 1982), Vanessa Kaminski (F)
In: Jasmin Matysiak (F), Anne Uersfeld (F)

Ghana
Referees
In: Amoah Reginald (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Abletor Seth (M), AkugreTheophilus (M)

Futsal
In: Quartey Derrick (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Robinson Jasper (M)

Greece
Referees
Out: Stefanos Koumparakis (M)
In: Christos Vergetis (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Andreas Fotopoulos (GRE)

Beach Soccer
In: Emmanouil Papadopoulos (M)

Grenada
Assistant Referees
In: Kessy Phillip (M)

Guatemala
Referees
In: Cristhofer Corado (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Vilma Alvarado (F), Jorge Lemus (M)

Futsal
Out: Carlos Gonzalez (M)
In: Kevin Archila (M), Lusswin Sanchez (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Wilfredy Avila (M), Fredy Veliz (M)

Guinea-Bissau
Referees
In: Yhanick Lopes (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Gilson Joaquin (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Platine Marcelino (M)

Haiti
Referees
In: Kendy Sylveus (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Jean Edmond (M)

Honduras
Referees
In: Jose Valladares (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Jose Espinoza (M)

Hong Kong
Referees
In: Chun Poon (M)

Hungary
Referees
Out: Ferenc Karako (M), Adam Farkas (M)
In: Bence Csonka (M, 1992), Mihaly Kapraly (M, 1990)

Futsal
In: Adam Czene-Joo (M)

Iceland
Assistant Referees
In: Ragnar Bender (ISL)

India
Referees
In: Senthulnathan Sekaran (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Ujjal Halder (M), Dipesh Sawant (M)

Indonesia
Referees
In: Ryan Saputra (M)

Futsal
In: Fitra Rahmat (M)

Iran
Assistant Referees
In: Ali Ahmadi (M), Mohammad Almani (M), Reihaneh Shirazi (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Mohammad Mardani (M)

Iraq
Referees
In: Ali Doshi (M)

Ireland
Referees
Out: Neil Doyle (M), Claire Purcell (F)
In: Kevin O’Sullivan (M)

Futsal
Out: Mark Patchell (M)

Israel
Assistant Referees
In: Tuval Koltunoff (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Daniel Bar (M)

Futsal
Out: Idan Elmalem (M), Mariia Glekova (F)
In: Ofer Grosfeld (M)

Italy
Referees
Out: Michael Fabbri (M, 1983)
In: Andrea Colombo (M, 1990)

Assistant Referees
In: Alessio Berti (M), Stefania Signorelli (F)

Video Match Officials
In: Michael Fabbri (M, 1983), Valerio Marini (M, 1982), Paolo Mazzoleni (M, 1974)

Futsal
In: Simone Zanfino (M)

Jamaica
Assistant Referees
In: Shireen Alleyne (F), Mojollee Gayle (F)

Japan
Referees
In: Koji Takasaki (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Chihiro Ikki (F), Tomoyuki Umeda (M)

Jordan
Referees
In: Mahmoud Al-Samalweh (M)

Kazakhstan
Referees
Out: Artyom Kuchin (M)
In: Rustam Omarov (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Rustam Omarov (M)

Futsal
In: Nurlybek Kalimaganbetov (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Roman Dzussov (M)

Kenya
Referees
In: Kelvin Maina (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Bonface Karanja (M), Adam Nyongesa (M)

Korea DPR
Assistant Referees
In: Ra Mu Hun (M)

Korea Republic
Assistant Referees
In: Cheon Jin-Hee (M), Lee Soo-Bin (F), Shin Jae-Hwan (M), Yoon Eun-Hee (F)

Futsal
In: Jo Hyun-Jin (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Kim Hyeong-Jin (M)

Kosovo
Futsal
Out: Vedran Marcinko (M), Nikola Tadic (M)

Kuwait
Assistant Referees
In: Abdulrahman Al-Kandari (M), Talal Al-Shammari (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Abdullah Arab (M)

Kyrgyzstan
Referees
In: Shanzhar Zhakypbekov (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Nuraaly Abdunabiev (M)

Laos
Assistant Referees
In: Loun Southivong (M)

Latvia
Assistant Referees
In: Artrs Sakurovs (M)

Video Match Official
In: Kristaps Ratnieks (M)

Futsal
Out: Eduards Fatkulins (M)
In: Sergejs Sacmans (M)

Lebanon
Futsal
In: Nour Chaito (M)

Lesotho
Referees
In: Mathapelo Morake (F)

Liberia
Referees
In: Washington Dolo (M), Love Wehyee (F)

Libya
Assistant Referees
In: Hasan Altuwmi (M)

Futsal
In: Ali Sbaga (M)

Lithuania
Referees
In: Ugne Smitaite (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Guost Jonikait (F), Benas Kikutis (M), Aleksandras Stepanovas (M)

Luxembourg
Assistant Referees
In: Yannick Mentz (M), Kevin Stammet (M)

Futsal
Out: Steve Ribeiro (M)

North Macedonia
Futsal
Out: Done Ristovski (M)

Madagascar
Referees
In: Arnaud Razafimahatoha (M), Lominson Todihajaniaina (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Brudo Ibenantenaina (M), Santatrarivelo Rafanomezantsoa (F)

Malawi
Assistant Referees
In: Samuel Fudzulani (M), Lameck Phiri (M), Mphatso Mmatete (F)

Malaysia
Referees
In: Mohamad Ismail (M), Nurul Zainal (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Munirah Ali (F)

Maldives
Referees
In: Zaheer Hussain (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Raeef Rauf (M), Abdulla Shathir (M)

Mali
Referees
In: Abdoulaye Diarra (M), Richard Kamate (M)

Assistant Referees
In: El Hadji Kone (M), Souleymane Traore (M)

Malta
Referees
In: Joanna Vassallo (F)

Futsal
In: Andrea Naudi (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Luca Formosa (M)

Mauritania
Futsal
In: Cheikh Mbodj (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Cheikh Bary (M)

Mexico
Assistant Referees
In: Jonathan Gomez (M), Elva Gutierrez (F), Aranza Quero (F)

Video Match Officials
Out: Luis Santander (M)
In: Oscar Mejia (M)

Futsal
In: Jonathan Betancourt (M), Eduardo Reynoso (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Ignacio Gongora (M), Omar Salazar (M)

Moldova
Assistant Referees
In: Valentina Zop (F)

Mongolia
Referees
In: Narangerel Ganbold (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Logishir Batchimeg (M), Orgil Nomunzul (M)

Montenegro
Assistant Referees
In: Marko Gojković (M), Vladislav Radenović (M)

Morocco
Referees
In: Hicham Temsamani (M), Zouleikha Harmasse (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Zakaria Bouchtaoui (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Yassine Bouslim (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Omar Tiguili (M)

Mozambique
Referees
In: Cacilda Fernando (F)

Futsal
In: Alberto Pimo (M)

Myanmar
Referees
In: Phyo Aung (M), Khin Chan (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Than Aung (M), Kyaw Maung (M)

Namibia
Assistant Referees
In: Hangula Angula (M), Klaus Bonifatius (M)

Nepal
Referees
In: Shyam Danuwar (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Prakash Bhujel (M), Merina Dhimal (F), Harish Karki (M)

Netherlands
Referees
Out: Jochem Kamphuis (M, 1986), Vivian Peeters (F)
In: Marc Nagtegaal (M, 1993), Wendy Gijsbers (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Ashley De Haan (F)

Video Match Officials
In: Erwin Blank (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Joey Waleveld (M)

Nicaragua
Referees
In: Ricardo Mendoza (M), Felix Mojica (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Alfredo Chavez (M)

Niger
Assistant Referees
In: Ada Tounaou (M), Moustapha Illiassou (M), Fatchima Oumarou (F)

Nigeria
Referees
In: Patrick Egba (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Faith Agbons (F)

Northern Ireland
Referees
Out: Andrew Davey (M)
In: Benjamin McMaster (M)

Norway
Referees
In: Karoline Jensen (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Tomke Poppen (F), Helle Reiten (F), Alf Rossland (M)

Pakistan
Assistant Referees
In: Ihsan Ahmed (M)

Palestine
Assistant Referees
In: Alaa Amro (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Hani Mesmeh (M)

Panama
Referees
In: Jorge Leira (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Jorginho Vasquez (M)

Paraguay
Referees
In: Blas Romero (M)

Futsal
In: Adriana Barrios (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Diego Santander (M)

Peru
Assistant Referees
In: Diego Jaimes (M), Diana Ruiz (F)

Poland
Referees
Out: Krzysztof Jakubik (M), Tomasz Musial (M)
In: Damian Kos (M, 1989), Lukasz Kuzma (M, 1991)

Assistant Referees
In: Aleksandra Mostowska (F)

Video Match Officials
Out: Marcin Borkowski (M)
In: Pawel Malec (M), Pawel Pskit (M), Piotr Lasyk (M)

Futsal
Out: Tomasz Frak (M)
In: Dominik Cipinski (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Wojciech Pawlak (M), Kinga Damps (F)

Portugal
Referees
Out: Vitor Ferreira (M)
In: Claudio Pereira (M, 1987)

Assistant Referees
In: Nelson Pereira (M), Sadrine Santos (F)

Futsal
In: Filipa Prata (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Gustavo Pereira (M)

Puerto Rico
Assistant Referees
In: Ruben Perez (M)

Romania
Referees
Out: Cristina Trandafir (F, 1983)
In: Roxana Timiș (F, 1996)

Assistant Referees
In: Marilena Nan (F, 1989)

Video Match Officials
In: Alina Peșu (F, 1989), Cristina Trandafir (F, 1983)

Russia
Referees
Out: Anastasia Pustovoitova (F, 1981)
In: Karina Afanaseva (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Irina Chechenina (F), Rustam Mukhtarov (M), Andrei Obrazko (M)

Futsal
Out: Iuri Neverov (M)
In: Ilya Pogonin (M)

Rwanda
Assistant Referees
In: Juliette Akimana (F)

San Marino
Referees
In: Michele Beltrano (M)

Futsal
In: Laurentiu Ilie (M)

Sao Tome and Principe
Referees
In: Gilson Da Costa (M), Josefa Moreno (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Luis De Ceita (M), Jose Torres (M)

Saudi Arabia
Referees
In: Heba Al-Owedi (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Shahad Zarban (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Mamdouh Al Shadan (M)

Futsal
In: Yahya Al-Athwani (M), Reem Al-Bishi (M)

Scotland
Referees
Out: Kevin Clancy (M)
In: Matthew MacDermid (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Christopher Rae (M)

Senegal
Referees
In: Aida Sy (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Mamadou BA (M), Aissa N’Diaye (F), Sarr N’Diaye (F)

Serbia
Referees
Out: Lazar Lukic (M), Milan Stefanovic (M)
In: Pavle Ilić (M), Danilo Nikolić (M), Milica Milovanović (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Nikola Borović (M), Attila Harmath (M), Milan Pašajlić (M), Marijana Rajović (F)

Futsal
Out: Nebojsa Panic (M)
In: Jasmina Mickoska (F), Srdjan Mihajlovic (M)

Seychelles
Assistant Referees
In: Julio Agathine (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Nadim Lucas (M), Dean Vandertoorn (M)

Sierra Leone
Referees
In: Rashid Conteh (M), Aminata Fullah (F)

Singapore
Referees
In: Hong Leow (M)

Slovakia
Assistant Referees
In: Dusan Stofik (M)

Slovenia
Referees
Out: Nejc Kajtazovic (M)
In: Martin Matoša (M)

Solomon Islands
Referees
In: Shama Maemae (F)

South Africa
Assistant Referees
In: Abi Ramutsindela (M)

Spain
Referees
Out: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (M, 1976), Antonio Mateu Lahoz (M, 1977), Maria Martinez Madrona (F, 1986)
In: Javier Alberola Rojas (M, 1991), Alejandro Muniz Ruiz (M, 1991), Eugenia Gil Soriano (F, 1996)

Assistant Referees
In: Alfredo Rodriguez Moreno (M, 1990), Iragartze Fernandez Esesumaga (F)

Video Match Officials
In: Javier Alberola Rojas (M, 1991), Santiago Jaime Latre (M), Valentin Pizzaro Gomez (M), Eduardo Prieto Iglesias (M)

Futsal
In: Sara Gutierrez Echeverria (F), Noelia Gutierrez Munoz (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Alicia Galan Cayado (F)

St. Kitts and Nevis
Referees
In: Hakeem Harvey (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Juniequa Matthew (F)

Suriname
Referees
In: Shekiel Jokil (M)

Sweden
Referees
Out: Bojan Pandzic (M, 1982), Kaspar Sjöberg (M, 1987)
In: Granit Maqedonci (M, 1989), Joakim Östling (M, 1991)

Assistant Referees
In: Tilde Larsson (F, 1999)

Switzerland
Referees
Out: Simona Ghisletta (F)
In: Laura Mauricio (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Guillaume Maire (M), Benjamin Zürcher (M), Laetitia Nuara (F)

Syria
Referees
In: Ammar Abo (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Mohamad Abdaljawad (M), Khoder Hamama (M), Abd Qana (M)

Tajikistan
Futsal
In: Safarali Mahmadizoza (M)

Tanzania
Referees
In: Amina Kyando (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Mary Said (F)

Thailand
Futsal
In: Nuttaporn Khamsamor (M)

Togo
Referees
In: Arima Akakpo (M), Kossi Senyo (M)

Trinidad and Tobago
Referees
In: Timothy Derry (M), Nikolai Nyron (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Kirt Charles (M), Melissa Nicholas (F)

Tunisia
Assistant Referees
In: Ahmed Dhouioui (M)

Turkey
Referees
Out: Ali Palabiyik (M, 1981), Erkan Özdamar (M, 1988), Yaşar Ugurlu (M), Neslihan Muratdagi (F)
In: Bahattin Şimşek (M), Kadir Saglam (M, 1995), Zorbay Küçük (M, 1992), Melek Dakan (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Deniz Özaral (M), Furkan Ürün (M), Merve Turan (F)

Video Match Officials
In: Mustafa Coşkun, Serkan Tokat

Beach Soccer
In: Drs Yavuz (M)

Turkmenistan
Assistant Referees
In: Ihlas Kurambayev (M)

Futsal
In: Merjen Bagshyyeva (F)

Uganda
Assistant Referees
In: Ashiraf Katerega (M), Brianson Musisi (M), Immaculate Ongiera (F)

Ukraine
Referees
Out: Ievgenii Aranovskyi (M, 1976), Sergii Boiko (M, 1977), Liudmyla Telbukh (F), Kateryna Usova (F)
In: Dmytro Kubriak (M), Dmytro Panchyshyn (M), Kristina Kozoroh (F), Sofiya Prychyna (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Maryna Popadenko (F)

UAE
Referees
In: Mohammed Al-Harmoodi (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Mohamed Al-Maazmi (M)

Video Match Officials
In: Easa Al-Hajeri (M), Ahmed Al-Naqbi (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Nawaf Hussein (M)

Uruguay
Referees
In: Nohelia Giacomazzi (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Hector Bergalo (M), Sofia Sarzay (F)

Beach Soccer
In: Ignacio Donato (M), Lucas Hernandez (M)

USA
Referees
Out: Nima Saghafi (M, 1990), Samantha Martinez (F)
In: Jon Freemon (M), Lukasz Szpala (M), Anya Voigt (F)

Assistant Referees
Out: Corey Rockwell (M, 1974)
In: Chris Elliott (M), Ryan Graves (M), Katarzyna Wasiak (F)

Futsal
In: Kristyn Pahia (F), Matthew Rodman (M)

Video Match Officials
Out: Ekaterina Koroleva (F, 1987)
In: Brooke Mayo (F, 1989)

Uzbekistan
Assistant Referees
In: Akmal Giyosov (M)

Futsal
In: Xusniddin Bahodirov (M), Adkhamjon Rikhsiboev (M)

Venezuela
Referees
Out: Jose Argote (M, 1980), Juan Soto (M, 1977)
In: Rafael Torres (M), Alejandro Velasquez (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Jose Martinez (M)

Futsal
In: Linderman Bruzuela (M), Jesus Cadenas (M)

Beach Soccer
In: Jesus Estrada (M)

Vietnam
Referees
In: Tran Thi Thanh (F)

Wales
Referees
In: Charlotte Carpenter (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Michelle Portelli (F)

Futsal
Out: Carl Hughes (M)
In: Elwyn Parry (M)

Yemen
Referees
In: Abdullah Al-Aqar (M), Mohammed Ba-Saleh (M)

Zambia
Referees
In: Annesta Bwalya (F), Chola Chansa (M)

Assistant Referees
In: Wilson Mpanisi (M), Warren Mulenga (M), Lumbizai Musawa (F)

Zimbabwe
Referees
In: Tichaona Mbire (M), Thabani Ruzario (M), Grace Gimo (F)

Assistant Referees
In: Progress Chatsamwa (F), Dominica Melusi (F)

Brazil: New FIFA VMO had zero matches as VAR in the first division when nominated

Diego Pombo Lopez is a new Brazilian FIFA Video Match Official (VMO). The nominations for the 2024 FIFA List were sent by Brazilian FA on 27 September 2023, when Pombo had a total of zero (0) appearances as VAR in the Brazilian first division. Diego Pombo won his spot on the list by replacing Rafael Traci, change approved by CONMEBOL. According to the Brazilian refereeing website De Olho No Apito, it is unclear whether Diego Pombo, whose father-in-law is a great friend of the CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues, was able to skip the required minimum 15 matches as VAR at the highest national level by being directly certified by CONMEBOL.

The official Regulations on the Nomination and Appointment of FIFA International Match Officials published by FIFA include the following requirement: “The proposed video match officials (VMOs) shall have officiated regularly at matches at the highest level in the member association of their country for at least two years and have officiated at least 15 matches as a VMO. They can also be directly certified by FIFA or the confederations. There is no fitness requirement for this role.”

Source: De Olho No Apito

FIFA Referees Committee 2024

Following its 2017 re-organization, the FIFA Referees Committee includes two representatives from each confederation: the Head of Refereeing and a member of the Referees Committee. The latest addition is former FIFA Futsal World Cup referee Lance VanHaitsma (USA, photo) who replaced Michelle Pye (CAN). Italy is the only country represented by three former World Cup referees: Collina (FIFA), Rizzoli (CONCACAF) and Rosetti (UEFA).

Chairman

Pierluigi Collina (ITA)

Deputy Chairman

Hany Al-Raeesi (QAT, AFC)

Members
1. Shamsul Maidin (SIN, AFC Ref Dept)
2. Noumandiez Doue (CIV, CAF Ref Dept)
3. An-Yan Lim Kee Chong (MRI, CAF Ref Com)
4. Nicola Rizzoli (ITA, CONCACAF Ref Consultant)
5. Lance VanHaitsma (USA, CONCACAF Ref Dept)
6. Enrique Caceres (PAR, CONMEBOL Ref Dept)
7. Wilson Seneme (BRA, CONMEBOL Ref Com)
8. Neil Poloso (SOL, OFC Ref Com)
9. Kevin Stoltenkamp (NZL, OFC Ref Dept)
10. Dagmar Damkova (CZE, UEFA Ref Com)
11. Roberto Rosetti (ITA, UEFA Chief Ref Officer)

World Cup referee Castro fled Colombia: "I felt death very close"

In the 1980s, foreign referees were hired for the finals in Colombia, to give greater status to the tournament and lower suspicions of arrangements. Pablo Escobar, the most relevant drug dealer in the history of Colombia and America, in addition to being the seventh richest man in the world in the late 1980s, according to Forbes magazine, was a close collaborator of the clubs from Medellin, reaching its top moment with the Copa Libertadores won by Atletico Nacional in 1989. The influence of drug trafficking in the Colombian football, with its dark and bulging fortunes, ended up being key to this achievement. Until that time, Colombia hasn't won absolutely nothing. The Colombian football never felt capable of big wins, said Alexis Garcia in the documentary "The Two Escobar." Even the historic coach Francisco Maturana - who took the team to the continental peak - pointed out that Colombia did not exist in football. After that time, everyone realized that Colombia exists.

The most critical moment was the murder of referee Alvaro Ortega, on 15 November 1989, in Medellin, at the orders of Pablo Escobar, which forced the national government to suspend the professional football championship. Ortega's death is attributed to Medellin gamblers who invested billions of pesos in bets. Three years earlier, Chilean referee Gaston Castro lived in his own flesh the murky handling of the cartel led by Pablo Escobar. Castro arrived in Colombia along with his compatriot Enrique Marin to referee the match between Atletico Nacional and America de Cali, for the seventh matchday of the Octagonal in 1986. Finally, Gaston Castro, who refereed at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, left the country afraid because someone knocked on the door of his hotel room in Medellín to tell him how the score of the match he was about to referee hours later should look like. After receiving the threat from the cartel, Castro spoke to the newspaper El Tiempo, Bogota, and said: “I felt death very close... In Colombia, the main protagonist of a game is the referee and not the players. Each game is a war, where the honor and pride of a region seem to be played. The healthy competition disappeared”.

After many years, in 2019, Gaston Castro, former World Cup referee and former president of the Chilean Referees Committee, gave more details about that match in Medellin to Arbitraje de Frente, a Colombian YouTube channel. "I refereed several classics in the famous Octagonal, since they used referees from other countries because there was a lot of mistrust and a series of situations that today, thank God, are eradicated from Colombian football. It was a very difficult and hard time for Colombian refereeing... On that occasion it was my turn to be in Colombia twice and I refereed very difficult games that allowed me to gain experience. In the second season I was sent to referee in the Octagonal, I lived a regrettable experience in Medellin. I left Colombia with a very bitter flavor and hoping that no referee will ever be killed," he said. Continuing the story, the former FIFA referee - now 75 years old - said: “Three hours away from going to the stadium, I was waiting for my assistants to arrive. I was with Dr. Morales in the room when they knocked on the door. I thought there were my assistants, but the two men at the door were looking for me. The doctor tried to close the door, but they opened it with a karate kick. They broke a lamp, came close to me with a revolver and told me that, if I don't favor Atletico Nacional, they are going to kill me. It was very hard, very difficult. Dr. Morales was assaulted. Before they left, they told me that, if I report the incident, they will kill me and will take care of my family. When the assistants arrived, I told them what had happened, and we went to the house of the relatives of one of them. Despite the strong threat, what led me to go to the Anastasio Girardot stadium was that the agent said - surprisingly - that I was drunk. That was one of the alternatives they used to explain why Gaston Castro didn't show up. Faced with this situation, I forgot that I had my four children and my wife waiting for me in Chile. I went to take a risk and I said, here I'm going to die, no matter, but I was going to die with my boots on. One hour before the kick-off, when everyone was wondering what's going on with Gaston, why hasn't he arrived, I showed up and said that I have been threatened with death, that's why I am not going to referee this match. In the change room, I met the presidents of both delegations and the match delegate. There was also a Colombian police colonel, who told me, “Sir, I regret what happened, but this happens here every day and at any time”. Finally, I told the colonel that I am not going to referee the match, despite the full stadium. Of course, when I got to the stadium everyone was shouting that I was drunk, but I told the authorities that I can only do the alcohol test in the United States: if you give me a plane, I do the test anywhere, but not in Colombia". The next day, the Chilean referee submitted his report to the Colombian league, as did the club managers, who backed Castro, saying that he was not drunk, but his fear was dominant. One of the assistants, Humberto Vargas, ended up refereeing the game. America de Cali won 3-2 in the Anastasio Girardot stadium, consolidated their position as leader and would end the tournament as champions.

Source: Bio Bio Chile

IFFHS World’s Best Referee 2023: Marciniak (POL)

One year ago, in December, he was the referee of the fantastic World Cup final in Qatar between Argentina and France. He won sovereign the IFFHS 2022 Award of the World’s Best Referee and received it during the UEFA meeting before all his colleagues last August in Geneva. In 2023, Szymon Marciniak was again crowned by IFFHS as the World’s Best Referee of the year due to his regularity and his charisma. He earned 175 points for a large win over Italian Daniele Orsato, winner of the IFFHS Award in 2020 and French Clement Turpin. England’s two referees Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor took places 4 and 5, just before the young French talent François Letexier. (Source: IFFHS)

IFFHS World’s Best Referees 2023

1. Szymon Marciniak (POL, photo) - 175p

2. Daniele Orsato (ITA) - 95p

3. Clement Turpin (FRA) - 64p

4. Michael Oliver (ENG) - 36p

5. Anthony Taylor (ENG) - 34p

6. Francois Letexier (FRA) - 28p

7. Danny Makkelie (NED) - 19p

8. Wilmar Roldan (COL) - 16p

9. Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP) - 11p

10. Felix Zwayer (GER) - 9p

IFFHS World’s Best Woman Referee 2023: Frappart (FRA)

For the fifth consecutive year, Stephanie Frappart is crowned as Women’s World Best Referee in 2023 by IFFHS. Only Italian Pierluigi Collina, IFFHS World Best Referee from 1998 to 2003, was better with 6 IFFHS Awards in a row. Since 2019, Frappart won each year, bringing the level more and more high. In each continent, leaders like Frappart for UEFA, were shining like Tori Penso (Concacaf), Yoshimi Yamashita (AFC), Edina Alves (CONMEBOL) or Salima Mukansanga (CAF). Tori Penso, who had only 17 points less than Stephanie Frappart, was chosen to whistle the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in Australia/New Zealand. Welsh referee Cheryl Foster completed the podium. (Source: IFFHS)

IFFHS World’s Best Women Referees 2023

1. Stephanie Frappart (FRA, photo) - 116p

2. Tori Penso (USA) - 99p

3. Cheryl Foster (WAL) - 54p

4. Kateryna Monzul (UKR) - 29p

5. Rebecca Welch (ENG) - 28p

6. Edina Alves (BRA) - 19p

7. Yoshimi Yamashita (JPN) - 19p

8. Salima Mukansanga (RWA) - 15p

9. Ekaterina Koroleva (USA) - 12p

10. Esther Staubli (SUI) - 11p

Saudi Pro League offer tempts top Italian referee Orsato

Daniele Orsato, who is considered one of Italy’s top referees, is tempted to move to Saudi Arabia after receiving a lucrative offer. The Saudi government has increasingly placed their focus on football over the last year, starting with Al-Nassr’s acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo. In the summer, a long list of players received rich offers from various clubs backed by the sovereign wealth fund, sending ripples across European football. A number of players have already made the jump to Saudi Arabia, including Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Neymar, Karim Benzema and former Italy coach Roberto Mancini. The government has shown no signs of slowing down and are expected to continue offering lucrative deals in the coming months.

Italian newspaper Tuttosport details how Orsato has received a rich proposal from Saudi Arabia, which would double his salary should he agree to officiate in the Saudi Pro League. He is tempted to accept and could make the jump at the end of this season. Considered one of Italy’s best referees, this situation has caused concern for the AIA – the Italian Referees Association – as he was believed to be one of the top candidates to replace Gianluca Rocchi as the new president of the organisation, after retiring from the field. The Saudi offer to Orsato could also see him become a director or executive within their footballing structure.

Source: Football Italia