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Peter Mikkelsen, one of world football’s leading referees in the 1980s and 1990s passed away on Tuesday at the age of 58 following a long illness. Mikkelsen made his officiating debut in the Danish Super League in 1985 and became a FIFA referee the same year. He finished his international career in 1996 and officiated at his last game in Denmark in 1998. He refereed at five FIFA World Cup matches, two in Italy in 1990 and three in the USA in 1994. He also refereed at two UEFA European Football Championship tournaments, 1992 in Sweden and 1996 in England. Mikkelsen won the World Referee of the Year Award in 1991 and 1993. He was a UEFA referee observer and took care of young Danish referees. Mikkelsen was a valued member of the FIFA Referees Committee for many years.  Speaking about Mikkelsen’s death, Chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee Pierluigi Collina said: “Peter was passionate about football and a highly respected sportsman throughout his career. He truly lived football and h...

Ravshan Irmatov, widely regarded as one of the best match officials in the world of refereeing, has been appointed to oversee the eagerly-anticipated final between Japan and Qatar at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Friday. The 41-year-old from Uzbekistan, who is no stranger to high-profile encounters, will be officiating in his second AFC Asian Cup final, having managed the 2011 final between Japan and Australia in Qatar. Ravshan Irmatov will be assisted by compatriots Abdukhamidullo Rasulov and Jakhongir Saidov (UZB) with Ma Ning from China PR named as the fourth official. Italian Paolo Valeri has been appointed as the VAR and will be supported by assistants Muhammad Taqi bin Jahari from Singapore and Australia’s Christopher Beath. At the age of 32, Irmatov was the youngest referee at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa before going to set the record for managing the highest number of matches at the FIFA World Cup when he officiated his eleventh encounter last June in Russia 2018...

29 January – 3 February 2019 Group A 1. Besart Ismajli (KVX) 2. Kirill Naishouler (FIN) 3. Jacob Pawlowski (GER) 4. Lukas Pesko (SVK) Group B 1. Victor Berg-Audic (FRA, photo) 2. Eduards Fatkulins (LVA) 3. Shota Kukhilava (GEO) 4. Daniel Matkovic (SUI) Group C 1. Moshe Bohbot (ISR) 2. Viktor Bugenko (MDA) 3. Grigori Osomkov (EST) 4. Dario Pezzuto (ITA) Group D 1. Vladimir Kadykov (RUS) 2. Kaloyan Kirilov (BUL) 3. Fredric Nilholt (SWE) 4. Slawomir Steczko (POL) Group E 1. Alem Bajrovic (BIH) 2. Hennadiy Hora (UKR) 3. Alessandro Malfer (ITA) 4. Jacob Van Dijke (NED) Group F 1. Vlad Ciobanu (ROU) 2. Maksim Dzeikala (BLR) 3. Alejandro Martinez Flores (ESP) 4. Stefan Vrijens (BEL) Group G  1. Daniele D'Adamo (SMR) 2. Javier Moreno Reina (ESP) 3. Costas Nicolaou (CYP) 4. Hikmat Qafarli (AZE) Group H 1. Josip Barton (MKD) 2. Norbert Szilagyi (HUN) 3. Dejan Veselic (SVN) 4. Grigori Zelentsov (RUS)

Ukrainian assistant referee Serhiy Bekker has been staying at a hospital in Greece for three months in a row. In October 2018, Bekker was appointed AR in a game in this country; however, on the eve of the match, they found him at a hotel suite, suffering consequences of a stroke. Kostyantyn Andriyuk, a sports journalist, posted that on Facebook. Serhiy Bekker received no financial aid from the national football federation of Ukraine "Assistant referee Serhiy Bekker was assigned 21 or 22 top games between Dynamo and Shakhtar in Ukraine. On October 24, the day before a European competition game in Greece, he was found at a hotel suite with the stroke. They saved him, but that entailed a long-lasting treatment. The UEFA insurance policy allowed to allocate 80,000 Euros and the Greek football federation gave some more money. The Football Federation of Ukraine gave 0 Euros, 00 percent. Serhiy Bekker is still at a Greek hospital. One month of treatment costs some 10,000 Euros", sai...

Niger, 2-17 February 2019 Referees 1. Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (BDI) 2. Antoine Effa (CMR, photo) 3. Souleiman Djama (DJI) 4. Mohamed Omar (EGY) 5. Peter Waweru (KEN) 6. Boubou Traoré (MLI) 7. Imtehaz Heeralall (MRI) 8. Mohamed Moussa (NIG) 9. Jean Ishimwe (RWA) 10. Hassan Mohamed (SOM) 11. Kokou Ntale (TOG) 12. Haythem Guirat (TUN) Assistant Referees 1. Luis Barbosa (CPV) 2. Jospin Malonga (CTA) 3. Gamal Samir (EGY) 4. Firmino Bassafim (GNB) 5. Lionel Hasinjarasoa (MAD) 6. Fabien Cauvelet (MRI) 7. Mustapha Akerkad (MAR) 8. Mathew Kanyanga (NAM) 9. Abdoul Saley (NIG) 10. Hamza Abdi (SOM) 11. Dick Okello (UGA) 12. Samuel Atango (ETH)

First Leg, 22-23 January 2019 Delfin – Nacional Referee: Julio Bascunan (CHI, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Raul Orellana (CHI) Assistant Referee 2: Edson Cisternas (CHI) Fourth Official: Eduardo Gamboa (CHI) Referee Assessor: Wilson Lamouroux (COL) Deportivo La Guaira – Real Garcilaso Referee: Cesar Deischler (CHI) Assistant Referee 1: Alejandro Molina (CHI) Assistant Referee 2: Claudio Urrutia (CHI) Fourth Official: Felipe Gonzalez (CHI) Referee Assessor: Miguel Buitrago (VEN) Bolívar – Defensor Sporting Referee: Diego Haro (PER) Assistant Referee 1: Jonny Bossio (PER) Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Atoche (PER) Fourth Official: Kevin Ortega (PER) Referee Assessor: Jose Carpio (ECU) Second Leg, 29-30 January 2019 Real Garcilaso – Deportivo La Guaira Referee: Mauro Vigliano (ARG) Assistant Referee 1: Diego Bonfa (ARG) Assistant Referee 2: Julio Fernandez (ARG) Fourth Official: Dario Herrera (ARG) Referee Assessor: Juan Corozo (ECU) Nacional – Delfin Referee: Andres Rojas (COL) Assistant R...

28 January 2019 Iran – Japan Referee: Christopher Beath (AUS) Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream (AUS) Assistant Referee 2: Anton Shchetinin (AUS) Fourth Official: Kim Dong-Jin (KOR) VAR: Paolo Valeri (ITA) AVAR 1: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN) AVAR 2: Ko Hyung-Jin (KOR) 29 January 2019 Qatar – UAE Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX) Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Hernandez (MEX) Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Morín (MEX) Fourth Official: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) VAR: Paolo Valeri (ITA) AVAR 1: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN) AVAR 2: Christopher Beath (AUS)

One of world's most infamous match-fixing cases was settled Thursday when a referee notorious for corrupt calls was banned for life. The corrupt games in Ibrahim Chaibou's career were key to revealing how easily international friendlies could be manipulated for betting scams, forced FIFA to change the rules for appointing referees, and helped expose the influence of convicted fixer Wilson Perumal. "Chaibou was probably the most corrupt referee the game of football has seen," former FIFA investigator Chris Eaton told The Associated Press on Thursday. Still, it took more than eight years to confirm his life ban from any involvement in soccer. FIFA ethics committee judges found the referee from Niger guilty of taking bribes to corrupt international friendly games in 2010 and 2011, soccer's world governing body said. Chaibou was fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($201,000), though it is unclear what power FIFA has to make the long-retired referee pay. He can appeal to the Co...

In preparation for the knock-out stage of the Champions League, UEFA has invited 27 referees and 22 assistant referees to a VAR seminar in Malaga (Spain), between 4 and 7 February 2019. Referees 1. Cüneyt Çakır (TUR) 2. William Collum (SCO) 3. Bastian Dankert (GER) 4. Carlos Del Cerro Grande (ESP) 5. Marco Fritz (GER) 6. Paweł Gil (POL) 7. Hüseyin Göçek (TUR) 8. Marco Guida (ITA) 9. Ovidiu Hațegan (ROU) 10. Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez (ESP) 11. Massimiliano Irrati (ITA) 12. Jochem Kamphuis (NED) 13. François Letexier (FRA) 14. Danny Makkelie (NED) 15. Szymon Marciniak (POL) 16. Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP) 17. Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP) 18. Milorad Mažić (SRB) 19. Michael Oliver (ENG) 20. Pawel Raczkowski (POL) 21. Nicolas Rainville (FRA) 22. Anastasios Sidiropoulos (GRE) 23. Barış Şimşek (TUR) 24. Damir Skomina (SVN) 25. Anthony Taylor (ENG) 26. Clement Turpin (FRA) 27. Pol van Boekel (NED) Assistant Referees 1. Roberto Alonso Fernandez (ESP) 2. Simon Bennett (ENG) 3. Gary Beswick (E...

Lisbon (Portugal), 27-31 January 2019 Men 1. Aliyar Aghayev (AZE, Cat. 1) 2. Alexei Kulbakov (BLR, Cat. 1) 3. Georgi Kabakov (BUL, Cat. 1) 4, Pavel Kralovec (CZE, Elite) 5. Michael Oliver (ENG, Elite, photo) 6. Anthony Taylor (ENG, Elite) 7. Craig Pawson (ENG, Cat. 1) 8. Mattias Gestranius (FIN, Cat. 1) 9. Clement Turpin (FRA, Elite) 10. Benoît Bastien (FRA, Elite) 11. Ruddy Buquet (FRA, Cat. 1) 12. Nicolas Rainville (FRA, Cat. 2, VAR) 13. Deniz Aytekin (GER, Elite) 14. Felix Brych (GER, Elite) 15. Felix Zwayer (GER, Elite) 16. Tobias Stieler (GER, Cat. 1) 17. Daniel Siebert (GER, Cat. 1) 18. Bastian Dankert (GER, Cat. 2, VAR) 19. Marco Fritz (GER, Cat. 2, VAR) 20. Anastasios Sidiropoulos (GRE, Elite) 21. Viktor Kassai (HUN, Elite) 22. Orel Grinfeeld (ISR, Cat. 1) 23. Daniele Orsato (ITA, Elite) 24. Gianluca Rocchi (ITA, Elite) 25. Davide Massa (ITA, Cat. 1) 26. Marco Guda (ITA, Cat. 2, VAR) 27. Massimiliano Irrati (ITA, Cat. 2, VAR) 28. Gediminas Mažeika (LTU, Cat. 1) 29. Andris Treim...

Football Federation Australia (FFA) today confirmed that they have accepted the resignation of referee Jarred Gillett who will finish his duties in March 2019 to pursue both academic and refereeing opportunities overseas. Gillett graduated with a PhD in Biomechanics from The University of Queensland in December 2018, which focused on children with Cerebral Palsy. Gillett has been offered and accepted a position at Liverpool John Moore's University, where he will continue his research, which starts in April 2019, but he was also keen to continue working as a referee. To that end, Gillett will join the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) Select Group 2 for season 2019/20 being the group who referee in the English Football League Championship. Gillett, one of FFA's foundation full-time referees, has refereed 154 matches since 2010 including five (5) Hyundai A-League Grand Finals and has been named the Hyundai A-League Referee of the Year five (5) times. Gillett was a...

24 January 2019 China – Iran Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (QAT, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Taleb Al-Marri (QAT) Assistant Referee 2: Saoud Al-Maqaleh (QAT) Fourth Official: Cesar Ramos (MEX) VAR: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) AVAR 1: Khamis Al-Marri (QAT) AVAR 2: Danny Makkelie (NED) Vietnam – Japan Referee: Mohammed Abdulla (UAE) Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE) Assistant Referee 2: Hasan Al-Mahri (UAE) Fourth Official: Ammar Al-Jneibi (UAE) VAR: Christopher Beath (AUS) AVAR 1: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN) AVAR 2: Paolo Valeri (ITA) 25 January 2019 Korea – Qatar Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) Assistant Referee 1: Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (UZB) Assistant Referee 2: Jakhongir Saidov (UZB) Fourth Official: Ma Ning (CHN) VAR: Paolo Valeri (ITA) AVAR 1: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN) AVAR 2: Fu Ming (CHN) UAE – Australia Referee: Ryuji Sato (JPN) Assistant Referee 1: Yaser Tulefat (BHR) Assistant Referee 2: Jun Mihara (JPN) Fourth Official: Turki Al-Khudhayr (KSA) VAR: Danny Makk...

FIFA has selected the candidate referees for the 2019-2022 preparation cycle, leading to the World Cup in Qatar. They will attend FIFA Seminars in Doha: CAF, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL officials from 13 to 17 February 2019 and AFC, OFC and UEFA officials from 25 February to 1 March 2019. Seminar 1 (CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL) CAF Referees 1. Mustapha Ghorbal (ALG, 1985) 2. Ndala Ngambo (DRC, 1987) 3. Redouane Jiyed (MAR, 1979) 4. Victor Gomes (RSA, 1982, photo) 5. Maguette Ndiaye (SEN, 1986) 6. Sadok Selmi (TUN, 1984) VARs 1. Ghead Grisha (EGY, 1976) 2. Bamlak Tessema (ETH, 1980) 3. Bakary Gassama (GAM, 1979) CONCACAF Referees 1. Mario Escobar (GUA, 1986) 2. Hector Martínez (HON, 1991) 3. Oshane Nation (JAM, 1991) 4. Fernando Guerrero (MEX, 1981) 5. Marco Ortiz (MEX, 1988) 6. Ismail Elfath (USA, 1982) 7. Armando Villarreal (USA, 1986) VARs 1. Drew Fischer (CAN, 1980) 2. David Gantar (CAN, 1975) 3. Adonai Escobedo (MEX, 1987) 4. Edvin Jurisevic (USA, 1975, former FIFA Referee) 5. Alan Kelly (U...

The Dutch FA published the audio footage of the penalty incident that occurred recently in the first division match played between Ajax and Heerenveen ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=Sb0QMKw2nZ4 ). Match officials involved: Serdar Gözübüyük (referee, photo), Dennis Higler (VAR), Angelo Boonman (AVAR). Referee: No, No, No, No; play on. VAR: Possible foul. Referee: Just a football contact. VAR: Play back, play back, I want to see it large. Referee: Dennis, there is contact, just a football contact. See how easy he is falling. Play on VAR: I want to see a total view. Angelo, what’s your opinion? The ball is now out of play. What’s your opinion Angelo? AVAR: Show me the replay. VAR: Serdar, wait with the restart! Referee: Yes, Yes. AVAR: He thinks it’s a football contact, but the goalkeeper missed the ball and touched the player. Yes, let’s do an OFR. VAR: Serdar, Serdar, you think it is a football contact, but I think the ball is gone without being touched by the goa...

20 January 2019 Jordan – Vietnam Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRN, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Reza Sokhandan (IRN) Assistant Referee 2: Mohammadreza Mansouri (IRN) Fourth Official: Abu Al-Amri (OMA) Additional AR 1: Mohanad Sarray (IRQ) Additional AR 2: Liu Kwok Man (HKG) Thailand – China Referee: Mohammed Abdulla (UAE) Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE) Assistant Referee 2: Hasan Al-Mahri (UAE) Fourth Official: Deniye Hemathunga (SRI) Additional AR 1: Ammar Al-Jneibi (UAE) Additional AR 2: Hettikamkanamge Perera (SRI) Iran – Oman Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX) Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Hernandez (MEX) Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Morin (MEX) Fourth Official: Matthew Cream (AUS) Additional AR 1: Christopher Beath (AUS) Additional AR 2: Ali Al-Qaysi (IRQ) 21 January 2019 Japan – Saudi Arabia Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) Assistant Referee 1: Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (UZB) Assistant Referee 2: Jakhongir Saidov (UZB) Fourth Official: Sergei Grishchenko (KGZ) Additional AR 1: Val...

17 January 2019 Oman – Turkmenistan Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (BHR, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Yaser Tulefat (BHR) Assistant Referee 2: Mohamed Salman (BHR) Additional AR1: Cesar Ramos (MEX) Additional AR2: Khamis Al-Kuwari (QAT) Fourth Official: Miguel Hernandez (MEX) Japan – Uzbekistan Referee: Mohammed Abdulla (UAE) Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE) Assistant Referee 2: Hasan Al-Mahri (UAE) Additional AR 1: Ammar Al-Jneibi (UAE) Additional AR 2: Ali Al-Qaysi (IRQ) Fourth Official: Huo Weiming (CHN) Saudi Arabia – Qatar Referee: Kim Dong-Jin (KOR) Assistant Referee 1: Yoon Kwang-Yeol (KOR) Assistant Referee 2: Park Sang-Jun (KOR) Additional AR 1: Ko Hyung-Jin (KOR) Additional AR 2: Fu Ming (CHN) Fourth Official: Cao Yi (CHN) Lebanon – Korea DPR Referee: Christopher Beath (AUS) Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream (AUS) Assistant Referee 2: Anton Shchetinin (AUS) Additional AR 1: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN) Additional AR 2: Liu Kwok Man (HKG) Fourth Official: Koh Min Kiat (SIN...

Mexico is enjoying a clean sweep in the Concacaf Referee of the Year Awards for 2018. Liga MX referee Cesar Ramos has been named Concacaf Men’s Referee of the Year, while, for the second straight year, Lucila Venegas of Liga MX Femenil has taken home Concacaf Women’s Referee of the Year honors. In was in 2018 that Ramos earned the distinction of refereeing in a FIFA World Cup for the very first time. The Sinaloa native officiated three matches at Russia 2018: Brazil-Switzerland and Poland-Colombia in the group phase, plus Uruguay-Portugal in the Round of 16. Ramos was also in charge of the two biggest matches in Liga MX in 2018, officiating the second leg of the Liga MX Torneo Clausura Final between Toluca and Santos Laguna, won 3-2 on aggregate by Santos. Six months later in the second leg of the Final of the Liga MX Torneo Apertura, Ramos was the referee for Club America’s 2-0 victory over Cruz Azul. It was also a busy 2018 for Venegas, who was appointed two matches at the 2018 Conca...

16 January 2019 Korea – China Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (QAT, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Mohd Bin Muhamad (MAS) Assistant Referee 2: Mohamad Bin Zainal (MAS) Additional AR 1: Khamis Al-Marri (QAT) Additional AR 2: Khamis Al-Kuwari (QAT) Fourth Official: Saoud Al-Maqaleh (QAT) Kyrgyzstan – Philippines Referee: Turki Al-Khudhayr (KSA) Assistant Referee 1: Mohammed Al-Abakry (KSA) Assistant Referee 2: Koh Min Kiat (SIN) Additional AR 1: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN) Additional AR 2: Hettikamkanamge Perera (SRI) Fourth Official: Deniye Hemathunga (SIN) Iran – Irak Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) Assistant Referee 1: Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (UZB) Assistant Referee 2: Jakhongir Saidov (UZB) Additional AR 1: Valentin Kovalenko (UZB) Additional AR 2: Ilgiz Tantashev (UZB) Fourth Official: Sergei Grishchenko (KGZ) Vietnam – Yemen Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (OMA) Assistant Referee 1: Abu Al-Amri (OMA) Assistant Referee 2: Rashid Al-Ghaithi (OMA) Additional AR 1: Jumpei Iida (JPN) Additional AR 2: ...

According to El Espanol , UEFA has selected 24 Elite referees eligible to be appointed as VARs in the knock-out stage of the Champions League. Spain (4): Carlos Del Cerro Grande, Jesus Gil Manzano, Antonio Mateu Lahoz, Alberto Undiano Mallenco. Germany (3): Deniz Aytekin, Felix Brych, Felix Zwayer Italy (2): Daniele Orsato, Gianluca Rocchi Netherlands (2): Björn Kuipers, Danny Makkelie France (2): Benoît Bastien, Clement Turpin England (1): Anthony Taylor Portugal (1): Artur Soares Dias Slovenia (1): Damir Skomina Hungary (1): Viktor Kassai Greece (1): Anastassios Sidiropoulos Serbia (1): Milorad Mazic Romania (1): Oliviu Hategan Czech Republic (1): Pavel Kralovec Poland (1): Szymon Marciniak Scotland (1): William Collum Russia (1): Sergei Karasev Source: El Arbitraje

14 January 2019 UAE – Thailand Referee: Ryuji Sato (JPN, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Hiroshi Yamauchi (JPN) Assistant Referee 2: Jun Mihara (JPN) Additional AR 1: Jumpei Iida (JPN) Additional AR 2: Hiroyuki Kimura (JPN) Fourth Official: Mohd Bin Muhamad (MAS) India – Bahrain Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (UZB) Assistant Referee 1: Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (UZB) Assistant Referee 2: Sergei Grishchenko (KGZ) Additional AR 1: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) Additional AR 2: Valentin Kovalenko (UZB) Fourth Official: Koh Min Kiat (SIN) 15 January 2019 Australia – Syria Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX) Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Hernandez (MEX) Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Morin (MEX) Additional AR 1: Liu Kwok Man (HKG) Additional AR 2: Khamis Al-Marri (QAT) Fourth Official: Deniye Hemathunga (SRI) Palestine – Jordan Referee: Mohanad Sarray (IRQ) Assistant Referee 1: Taleb Al-Marri (QAT) Assistant Referee 2: Saoud Al-Maqaleh (QAT) Additional AR 1: Ali Al-Qaysi (IRQ) Additional AR 2: Khamis Al-Kuwari (QAT) Fourth ...

13 January 2019 Korea DPR – Qatar Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (SRI, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Deniye Hemathunga (SRI) Assistant Referee 2: Jakhongir Saidov (UZB) Additional AR 1: Valentin Kovalenko (UZB) Additional AR 2: Ilgiz Tantashev (UZB) Fourth Official: Matthew Cream (AUS) Oman – Japan Referee: Mohd Bin Yaacob (MAS) Assistant Referee 1: Mohd Bin Muhamad (MAS) Assistant Referee 2: Mohamad Bin Zainal (MAS) Additional AR1: Peter Green (AUS) Additional AR2: Ko Hyung-Jin (KOR) Fourth Official: Anton Shchetinin (AUS) Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan Referee: Ammar Al-Jneibi (UAE) Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE) Assistant Referee 2: Hasan Al-Mahri (UAE) Additional AR1: Mohammed Abdulla (UAE) Additional AR2: Turki Al-Khudhayr (KSA) Fourth Official: Mohammed Al-Abakri (KSA)

12 January 2019 Vietnam – Iran Referee: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Koh Min Kiat (SIN) Assistant Referee 2: Sergei Grishchenko (KGZ) Additional AR1: Cesar Ramos (MEX) Additional AR2: Hettikamkanamge Perera (SRI) Fourth Official: Deniye Hemathunga (SRI) Yemen – Iraq Referee: Fu Ming (CHN) Assistant Referee 1: Huo Weiming (CHN) Assistant Referee 2: Cao Yi (CHN) Additional AR1: Ma Ning (CHN) Additional AR2: Liu Kwok Man (HKG) Fourth Official: Mohamad Bin Zainal (MAS) Lebanon – Saudi Arabia Referee: Ali Al-Qaysi (IRQ) Assistant Referee 1: Abu Al-Amri (OMA) Assistant Referee 2: Rashid Al Ghaithi (OMA) Additional AR1: Mohanad Sarray (IRQ) Additional AR2: Mohd Bin Yaacob (MAS) Fourth Official: Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (UZB)

Portugal, 15-17 February 2019 Referees 1. Raquel Gonzalez Ruano (ESP, 1976) 2. Chiara Perona (ITA, 1987, photo) 3. Irina Velikanova (RUS, 1980) 4. Fatma Tursun (TUR, 1988) 5. Gelareh Nazemi (IRN, 1984) 6. Zari Fathi (IRN, 1988)

The Professional Referee Organization is pleased to announce that Mark Geiger, one of the most heralded U.S. referees over the past two decades, has been appointed as Director of Senior Match Officials. He will oversee the work of officials operating at the Major League Soccer level with immediate effect. The new role will see the two-time MLS Referee of the Year Geiger retire from refereeing to join PRO’s management team after an illustrious 21-year career that saw him officiate at two FIFA World Cups, three Concacaf Gold Cups and the Olympic Games. As Director of Senior Match Officials, Geiger will lead a team of staff who are responsible for the coaching education and continual improvement of on-field and video match officials who work in MLS. “Having worked games in MLS for 15 years and internationally for 11, I felt it was time for me both personally and professionally to hang up my whistle and boots and start this new chapter,” the New Jersey native said. “I am extremely excited ...

10 January 2019 Bahrain – Thailand Referee: Christopher Beath (AUS, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream (AUS) Assistant Referee 2: Anton Shchetinin (AUS) Additional AR 1: Peter Green (AUS) Additional AR 2: Ryuji Sato (JPN) Fourth Official: Sergei Grishchenko (KGZ) Jordan – Syria Referee: Kim Dong-Jin (KOR) Assistant Referee 1: Yoon Kwang-Yeol (KOR) Assistant Referee 2: Park Sang-Jun (KOR) Additional AR 1: Nawaf Shukralla (BHR) Additional AR 2: Ko Hyung-Jin (KOR) Fourth Official: Yaser Tulefat (BHR) India – UAE Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX) Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Hernandez (MEX) Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Morín (MEX) Additional AR 1: Jumpei Iida (JPN) Additional AR 2: Hiroyuki Kimura (JPN) Fourth Official: Rashid Al Ghaithi (OMA) 11 January 2019 Palestine – Australia Referee: Valentin Kovalenko (UZB) Assistant Referee 1: Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (UZB) Assistant Referee 2: Jakhongir Saidov (UZB) Additional AR 1: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB) Additional AR 2: Ilgiz Tantashev (UZB) Fourth ...

1. Nikola Jelic (CRO, photo) 487 p 2. Irina Velikanova (RUS) 434 p 3. Ricardo Amaral (BRA) 302 p 4. Gelareh Nazemi (IRN) 301 p 5. Hiroyuki Kobayashi (JPN) 282 p 6. Valeria Palma (CHI) 171 p 7. Mohamed Hassan (EGY) 147 p 8. Antony Riley (NZL) 103 p 9. Lance VanHaitsma (USA) 102 p 10. Khalid Hnich (MAR) 71 p Source: FutsalPlanet

9 January 2019 Japan – Turkmenistan Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRN, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Reza Sokhandan (IRN) Assistant Referee 2: Mohammadreza Mansouri (IRN) Additional AR1: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN) Additional AR2: Mohd Bin Yaacob (MAS) Fourth Official: Mohamad Bin Zainal (MAS) Uzbekistan – Oman Referee: Ko Hyung-Jin (KOR) Assistant Referee 1: Yoon Kwang-Yeol (KOR) Assistant Referee 2: Park Sang-Jun (KOR) Additional AR1: Kim Dong-Jin (KOR) Additional AR2: Hettikamkanamge Perera (SRI) Fourth Official: Mohd Bin Muhamad (MAS) Qatar – Lebanon Referee: Ma Ning (CHN) Assistant Referee 1: Huo Weiming (CHN) Assistant Referee 2: Cao Yi (CHN) Additional AR1: Fu Ming (CHN) Additional AR2: Liu Kwok Man (HKG) Fourth Official: Koh Min Kiat (SIN)

7 January 2019 Korea – Philippines Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (BHR, photo) Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Salman (BHR) Assistant Referee 2: Yaser Tulefat (BHR) Additional AR1: Mohanad Sarray (IRQ) Additional AR2: Turki Al-Khudhayr (KSA) Fourth Official: Mohammed Al-Abakry (KSA) China – Kyrgyzstan Referee: Mohammed Abdulla (UAE) Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE) Assistant Referee 2: Hasan Al-Mahri (UAE) Additional AR 1: Ali Al-Qaysi (IRQ) Additional AR 2: Ammar Al-Jneibi (UAE) Fourth Official: Ahmad Al-Roalle (JOR) Iran – Yemen Referee: Ryuji Sato (JPN) Assistant Referee 1: Hiroshi Yamauchi (JPN) Assistant Referee 2: Jun Mihara (JPN) Additional AR1: Hiroyuki Kimura (JPN) Additional AR2: Jumpei Iida (JPN) Fourth Official: Palitha Hemathunga (SRI) 8 January 2019 Iraq – Vietnam Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (QAT) Assistant Referee 1: Saoud Al-Maqaleh (QAT) Assistant Referee 2: Taleb Al-Marri (QAT) Additional AR 1: Khamis Al-Marri (QAT) Additional AR 2: Khamis Al-Kuwari (QAT) Fourt...

Referee John Beaton was given a police escort into Ayr United's Somerset Park after allegedly receiving threatening messages following the Old Firm derby. Beaton was criticized after Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos was not punished for several incidents in the 1-0 win over Celtic at Ibrox last week. Beaton refereed Ayr-Falkirk in the Scottish Championship on Saturday. Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell said "a line has been crossed" and urged "respect" for officials. Police Scotland confirmed "a complaint has been made regarding texts and calls received by a 36-year-old man". With police inquiries "ongoing", Maxwell said: "It is with deep dismay that, in the last 24 hours, we learned of one of our match officials having had threats made against him and his family. We are in close contact with those involved and with Police to ensure they are safe and those responsible are identified and held accountable for their actions." Beat...

Referee Victor Gomes has been included on FIFA’s shortlist and invited to a seminar for elite officials next month as the first step towards making the panel for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He will travel to Doha, Qatar, from 14 to 17 February 2019, along with another five African referees for fitness tests, as well as theoretical sessions and practice with a VAR (video assistant referee) simulator. This seminar falls under FIFA’s preparations for their upcoming football competitions and will be split into two groups. The first group which will consist of CAF, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, will attend the seminar from 14 to 17 February 2019, while AFC, OFC and UEFA referees’ seminar will take place from 25 February to 1 March 2019.  The 2017/18 PSL Referee of the Season is the only South African to have been selected in the country to form part of the six African referees that are to represent CAF in this upcoming workshop. Other fellow African match officials to attend this workshop alo...

Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh has been appointed to officiate the opening match between hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in the capital, Abu Dhabi, which will kick-off at 8pm local time. Together with assistants and compatriots, Ahmad Moannes Al Roalle and Mohammad Mustafa Al Kalaf, he will lead the AFC’s largest-ever cast of 60 match officials of referees and assistant referees, including a trio from CONCACAF. Makhadmeh has been a FIFA referee since 2013 and officiated in the first-leg of the 2017 AFC Champions League final between Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds. He was also one of the Additional Assistant Referees for the deciding leg in last year’s AFC Champions League final between Persepolis and Kashima Antlers in Tehran and the AFC U23 Championship final between eventual winners Uzbekistan and Vietnam in China earlier in 2018. Making his continental debut in the 2014 AFC Cup, the Jordanian is widely-regarded...

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) presented the 2018 AFC Referees Special Award to the men’s trio from Iran - Alireza Faghani, assistant referees Reza Sokhandan and Mohammad Reza Mansouri – at the Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The trio were honoured for their appointment to the third-place playoff between Belgium and England in Saint Petersburg at the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, where the AFC were represented by a record 16 match officials. AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who presented the trio with their awards on the eve of the biggest-ever AFC Asian Cup which kicks off tomorrow at the Zayed Sports City Stadium said: “There is no better way to honour Asia’s finest match officials than to do it here in the UAE on the eve of the biggest ever AFC Asian Cup. Each year, Asian refereeing continues to set new standards of excellence and the incredible performances of our match officials reinforce the Continent’s position as global leaders in ref...