CONMEBOL U-17 Championship 2013

Argentina, 2-28 April 2013

Referees
1. Jose Argote (VEN, 1980)
2. Julio Bascunan (CHI, 1978)
3. Pericles Cortez (BRA, 1975, photo)
4. German Delfino (ARG, 1978)
5. Marlon Escalante (VEN, 1974)
6. Fernando Falce (URU, 1976)
7. Diego Haro (PER, 1982)
8. Jose Jordan (BOL, 1978)
9. Ulises Mereles (PAR, 1984)
10. Paulo Oliveira (BRA, 1973)
11. Silvio Trucco (ARG, 1978)
12. Carlos Ulloa (CHI, 1975)
13. Adrian Velez (COL, 1976)
14. Roddy Zambrano (ECU, 1978)

Assistant Referees
1. Wilson Arellano (BOL, 1980)
2. Braulio Cornejo (PER, 1975)
3. Alexander Guzman (COL, 1985)
4. Luis Murillo (VEN, 1976)
5. Raul Orellana (CHI, 1977)
6. Gabriel Popovits (URU, 1977)
7. Gustavo Rossi (ARG, 1973)
8. Luis Vera (ECU, 1980)
9. Fabricio Vilarinho (BRA, 1980)
10. Juan Zorrilla (PAR, 1975)

Referee Observers
1. Carlos Alarcon (PAR)
2. Ernesto Filippi (URU)
3. Abel Gnecco (ARG)

CAF U-20 Championship Final 2013: Abid (ALG)

30 March 2013

Ghana – Egypt
Referee: Mehdi Abid Charef (ALG, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: El Hadji Samba (SEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Anouar Hmila (TUN)
Fourth Official: Hudu Munyemana (RWA)

OFC Champions League – Group Stage (Matchday 1)

30 March 2013

Hekari United – Ba
Referee: Peter O’Leary (NZL, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: David Charles (PNG)
Assistant Referee 2: Roger Adams (PNG)
Fourth Official: Hillary Ani (PNG)

Solomon Warriors – Amicale
Referee: Nicholas Waldron (NZL)
Assistant Referee 1: Noel Berry (NZL)
Assistant Referee 2: Erick Niabo (SOL)
Fourth Official: John Saohu (SOL)

Mont Dore – Auckland City

Referee: Jacques Averii (TAH)
Assistant Referee 1: Didier Hmuzo (NCL)
Assistant Referee 2: Eddy Theain-Boanouma (NCL)
Fourth Official: Isidore Assiene-Ambassa (NCL)

Waitakere United – Dragon

Referee: Rakesh Varman (FIJ)
Assistant Referee 1: Glenn Lochrie (NZL)
Assistant Referee 2: Chris Wolken (NZL)
Fourth Official: Mirko Benischke (NZL)

UEFA Women’s Champions League – Quarter-finals

First Leg, 20 March 2013

Arsenal – Torres
Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (GER, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Marina Wozniak (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Katrin Rafalski (GER)
Fourth Official: Jane Simms (ENG)

Wolfsburg – Rossiyanka
Referee: Cristina Dorcioman (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Monica Rigo (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Speranta Popescu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Marija Kurtes (GER)

Lyon – Malmo
Referee: Esther Staubli (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Belinda Brem (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Susann Kung (SUI)
Fourth Official: Solenne Bartnik (FRA)

Juvisy – Goteborg
Referee: Christine Baitinger (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Inka Muller (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Christina Jaworek (GER)
Fourth Official: Karine Solana (FRA)

Second Leg, 27-28 March 2013

Torres – Arsenal

Referee: Teodora Albon (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Petruta Iugulescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Mihaela Gomoescu (ROU)
Fourth Official: Eleonora Capello (ITA)


Goteborg – Juvisy
Referee: Silvia Spinelli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Romina Santuari (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Giuliana Guarino (ITA)
Fourth Official: Camilla Stendahl (SWE)

Rossiyanka – Wolfsburg
Referee: Kirsi Heikkinen (FIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Tonja Paavola (FIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Ifeoma Kulmala (FIN)
Fourth Official: Yana Mazanova (RUS)

Malmo – Lyon
Referee: Kateryna Monzul (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Natalia Rachynska (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Yana Sashchyna (UKR)
Fourth Official: Malin Johansson (SWE)

Second seminar for prospective referees FIFA World Cup 2014

Following the first seminar for prospective referees and assistant referees for the FIFA World Cup 2014 Brazil, held in Zurich, in September 2012, as part of the preparations for the World Cup, the selected match officials are now invited to attend a second seminar. FIFA also confirmed the updated list of prospective referees and assistant referees posted here on 27 February 2013.
The seminars will be held in the confederations and are scheduled as follows:
- CONCACAF in Fort Lauderdale (USA): 4 – 7 April 2013
- CONMEBOL in Asuncion (Paraguay): 9 – 12 April 2013
- UEFA in Zurich (Switzerland): 16 – 19 April 2013
- AFC & OFC in Dubai (UAE): 22 – 25 April 2013
- CAF in Casablanca (Morocco): 27 – 30 April 2013


The seminars will focus on the following:
- Protecting players and the image of the game and fair-play
- Guarantee of decisional consistency and uniformity
- Reading the game (technical/tactical approach)
- Understanding different football mentalities (knowledge of teams).


After these seminars, FIFA will appoint referees for the 2013 selection tournaments: Confederations Cup, U-20 World Cup, U-17 World Cup and Club World Cup.

Source: FIFA

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – UEFA

26 March 2013

France – Spain
Referee: Viktor Kassai (HUN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Gabor Eros (HUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Gyorgy Ring (HUN)
Fourth Official: Tamas Bognar (HUN)

Wales – Croatia

Referee: Luca Banti (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Nicola Nicoletti (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Riccardo Di Fiore (ITA)
Fourth Official: Mauro Bergonzi (ITA)

Serbia – Scotland

Referee: Istvan Vad (HUN)
Assistant Referee 1: Istvan Albert (HUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Vencel Toth (HUN)
Fourth Official: Sandor Ando-Szabo (HUN)

Belgium – Macedonia

Referee: Olegario Benquerenca (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Joao Santos (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Venancio Tome (POR)
Fourth Official: Hugo Ferreira (POR)

Armenia – Czech Republic

Referee: Cristian Balaj (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Cristian Nica (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Sebastian Gheorghe (ROU)
Fourth Official: Alexandru Tudor (ROU)

Denmark – Bulgaria

Referee: Firat Aydinus (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Serkan Ok (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Aleks Tascioglu (TUR)
Fourth Official: Huseyin Gocek (TUR)

Malta – Italy

Referee: Serdar Gozubuyuk (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Charles Schaap (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Hessel Steegstra (NED)
Fourth Official: Richard Liesveld (NED)

Ireland – Austria

Referee: Marijo Strahonja (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Sinisa Premuzaj (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Goran Pataki (CRO)
Fourth Official: Ante Vucemilovic-Simunovic (CRO)

Germany – Kazakhstan

Referee: Halis Ozkahya (TUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Cem Satman (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Volkan Narinc (TUR)
Fourth Official: Mete Kalkavan (TUR)

Estonia – Andorra

Referee: Jan Valasek (SVK)
Assistant Referee 1: Miroslav Benko (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Tomas Vorel (SVK)
Fourth Official: Vladimir Vnuk (SVK)

Turkey – Hungary

Referee: Milorad Mazic (SRB)
Assistant Referee 1: Milovan Ristic (SRB)
Assistant Referee 2: Dalibor Djurdjevic (SRB)
Fourth Official: Milenko Vukadinovic (SRB)

Netherlands – Romania

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Simon Beck (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Child (ENG)
Fourth Official: Lee Probert (ENG)

N. Ireland – Israel

Referee: Hannes Kaasik (EST)
Assistant Referee 1: Jaanus Mutli (EST)
Assistant Referee 2: Hannes Reinvald (EST)
Fourth Official: Kristo Tohver (EST)

Azerbaijan – Portugal

Referee: Andre Marriner (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Simon Bennett (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Stuart Burt (ENG)
Fourth Official: Anthony Taylor (ENG)


Poland – San Marino
Referee: Ken Henry Johnsen (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Svein Inge Wiken (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Sven Erik Midthjell (NOR)
Fourth Official: Tore Hansen (NOR)

Montenegro – England

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Mathias Klasenius (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Warnmark (SWE)
Fourth Official: Stefan Johannesson (SWE)

Ukraine – Moldova

Referee: Kenn Hansen (DEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Lars Rix (DEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Jacob Bille (DEN)
Fourth Official: Jakob Kehlet (DEN)

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – CONMEBOL

26 March 2013

Bolivia – Argentina
Referee: Enrique Osses (CHI, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Francisco Mondria (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Astroza (CHI)
Fourth Official: Julio Bascunan (CHI)
Referee Observer: Jorge Larrionda (URU)

Ecuador – Paraguay
Referee: Sandro Ricci (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Emerson Carvalho (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alessandro Rocha (BRA)
Fourth Official: Paulo Oliveira (BRA)
Referee Observer: Oscar Ruiz (COL)

Venezuela – Colombia
Referee: Antonio Arias (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Rodney Aquino (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Dario Gaona (PAR)
Fourth Official: Enrique Caceres (PAR)
Referee Observer: Alberto Tejada (PER)

Chile – Uruguay
Referee: Nestor Pitana (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Diego Bonfa (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Gustavo Rossi (ARG)
Fourth Official: Saul Laverni (ARG)
Referee Observer: Carlos Alarcon (PAR)

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – CONCACAF

26 March 2013

Mexico – USA
Referee: Walter Lopez (GUA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Gerson Lopez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 2: Hermenerito Leal (GUA)
Fourth Official: Oscar Reyna (GUA)

Panama – Honduras
Referee: Jair Marrufo (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Eric Boria (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Charles Morgante (USA)
Fourth Official: Baldomero Toledo (USA)

Costa Rica – Jamaica
Referee: Enrico Wijngaarde (SUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ramon Louisville (SUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Egberth Paesch (ARU)
Fourth Official: Rudolph Angela (ARU)

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – OFC

26 March 2013

New Caledonia – Tahiti
Referee: Rakesh Varman (FIJ, photo)
Assistant referee: Noel Berry (SOL)
Assistant referee: Terry Piri (COK)
Fourth official: John Saohu (SOL)

Solomon Islands – New Zealand
Referee: Averii Jacques (TAH)
Assistant referee: Paul Ahupu (TAH)
Assistant referee: Kaloata Chilia (VAN)
Fourth official: Robinson Banga (VAN)

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – CAF

26 March 2013

Egypt – Zimbabwe
Referee: Badara Diatta (SEN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Djibril Camara (SEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Serigne Toure (SEN)
Fourth Official: Daouda Gueye (SEN)

Algeria – Benin
Referee: Rajindraparsad Seechurn (MRI)
Assistant Referee 1: Vivian Vally (MRI)
Assistant Referee 2: Akhtar Rossaye (MRI)
Fourth Official: Parmendra Nunkoo (MRI)

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – AFC

26 March 2013

Jordan – Japan
Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Hassan Kamranifar (IRN)
Assistant Referee 2: Reza Sokhandan (IRN)
Fourth official: Saeid Mozaffari (IRN)

Korea – Qatar

Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (JPN)
Assistant Referee 1: Toru Sagara (JPN)
Assistant Referee 2: Toshiyuki Nagi (JPN)
Fourth official: Yudai Yamamoto (JPN)

Australia – Oman

Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB)
Assistant Referee 1: Abduxamidullo Rasulov (UZB)
Assistant Referee 2: Bakhadyr Kochkarov (KGZ)
Fourth official: Dmitriy Mashentsev (KGZ)

Uzbekistan – Lebanon

Referee: Abdul Bashir (SIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Tzu Lee (SIN)
Assistant Referee 2: Yew Mun Tang (SIN)
Fourth official: Muhammad Jahari (SIN)

CAF U-20 Championship 2013

Algeria, 16-30 March 2013

Referees
1. Bernard Camille (SEY, 1975, photo)
2. Mehdi Abid Charef (ALG, 1980)
3. Denis Dembele (CIV, 1978)
4. Youssef Essrayri (TUN, 1977)
5. Hudu Munyemana (RWA, 1974)
6. Maguette N’Diaye (SEN, 1986)
7. Thierry Nkurunziza (BDI, 1984)
8. Rainhold Shikongo (NAM, 1980)
9. Bamlack Tessema (ETH, 1980)
10. Juste Zio (BFA, 1977)

Assistant Referees
1. Moussa Bayere (CIV, 1975)
2. Mohamed Bechirene (ALG, 1978)
3. Balkrishna Bootun (MRI, 1973)
4. Jerson Dos Santos (ANG, 1983)
5. Hassan Egueh (DJI, 1974)
6. Anouar Hmila (TUN, 1974)
7. Arsenio Marengula (MOZ, 1986)
8. Guy Noupue (CMR, 1983)
9. Peter Sabatia (KEN, 1978)
10. El Hadji Samba (SEN, 1979)
11. Sidiki Sidibe (GUI, 1982)
12. Berhe Tesfargiorghis (ERI, 1975)
13. Seydou Tiama (BFA, 1980)
14. Issa Yaya (CHA, 1979)

Rasmussen has quit international refereeing after Manchester - Ajax

Peter Rasmussen, 37, has chosen to end his career as an international referee with immediate effect. Denmark's top-ranked referee will only continue in the domestic competitions. "It has been a very difficult decision to make, but I am relieved and settled with my choice. I must also say it's an idea I have had for over a year, so it is deliberate and it has nothing to do with the Champions League match Manchester City – Ajax, maybe just the straw that broke the camel's back", said Rasmussen.
Two episodes in that match resulted in strong reactions from the home team's players (photo) and coaches against the Danish referee and subsequent focus from the media, both at home and abroad. Peter Rasmussen then chose not to referee more matches in the winter break. "I no longer feel I have the time and energy to fit a full-time job, family and refereeing at top international level with the high demands that are being made. It takes too much for me, mentally, and it also takes a lot of time. It has been impossible for me to be 100% present in all three contexts and therefore I had to make a choice", justifies Peter Rasmussen and continues: "I have struggled for many years to meet the requirements of UEFA and FIFA, while I have cared for jobs and small children. I am very happy and proud of the results I have achieved internationally. And all the experiences I have been through seven years as a FIFA referee, I would not trade for a million".
Peter Rasmussen's international career started in 2006 when he was appointed as a FIFA referee. He made his international debut in 2007, followed by his first qualifying match for the Champions League between SK Rapid Wien and Anorthosis Famagusta in August 2008. He made his debut in the Champions League group stage in November 2011 with the match between Bate Borisov and AC Milan. Last year, Peter Rasmussen was the first referee to test the goal-line system "hawk-eye" for FIFA, when he refereed a friendly match between England and Belgium on 2 June 2012 at Wembley. His last international club match became Manchester City – Ajax Amsterdam in November 2012, while World Cup qualifying match between Macedonia and Croatia on 12 October 2012 was his last international A match. Peter Rasmussen reached in all probability more than 45 international matches in different tournaments. By its international termination was Peter Rasmussen broken for ties in UEFA Elite Development category, which is the second highest category.
"We know that Peter has made a lot of thoughts about it and he has taken a deliberate decision that we support him. He has been a great representative of the Danish refereeing in Europe and he has had a high star from UEFA and FIFA, who followed him closely right from his earliest years as a FIFA referee", says Kaj Ostergaard, who is the chairman of DBU's Elite Referee Group, and concludes: "We are very pleased that Peter still has the motivation to referee at home, because he helps to ensure a high level of competitions and he is also a role model for his younger colleagues".

Source: DBU

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – UEFA

22 March 2013

Croatia – Serbia

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (TUR, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Bahattin Duran (TUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tarik Ongun (TUR)
Fourth Official: Baris Simsek (TUR)

Scotland – Wales

Referee: Antony Gautier (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Eric Dansault (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Cyril Gringore (FRA)
Fourth Official: Laurent Duhamel (FRA)

Macedonia – Belgium

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Guido Kleve (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Fourth Official: Marco Fritz (GER)

Bulgaria – Malta

Referee: Eitan Shmuelevitz (ISR)
Assistant Referee 1: Danny Krasikow (ISR)
Assistant Referee 2: David Elias Biton (ISR)
Fourth Official: Menashe Masiah (ISR)

Czech Republic – Denmark

Referee: Manuel De Sousa (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Bertino Miranda (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Rui Tavares (POR)
Fourth Official: Artur Soares (POR)

Austria – Faroe Islands

Referee: Oleksandr Derdo (UKR)
Assistant Referee 1: Oleksandr Korniyko (UKR)
Assistant Referee 2: Volodymyr Volodin (UKR)
Fourth Official: Anatoli Zhabchenko (UKR)

Sweden – Ireland

Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Roberto Diaz Del Palomar (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Raul Cabanero Martinez (ESP)
Fourth Official: Carlos Clos Gomez (ESP)

Kazakhstan – Germany

Referee: Anastasios Kakos (GRE)
Assistant Referee 1: Christos Akrivos (GRE)
Assistant Referee 2: Dimitrios Tatsis (GRE)
Fourth Official: Athanassios Giachos (GRE)

Andorra – Turkey

Referee: Nerijus Dunauskas (LTU)
Assistant Referee 1: Vytautas Simkus (LTU)
Assistant Referee 2: Saulius Dirda (LTU)
Fourth Official: Gediminas Mazeika (LTU)

Netherlands – Estonia

Referee: Vitaly Meshkov (RUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Nikolay Golubev (RUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Vitaly Drozdov (RUS)
Fourth Official: Vladimir Kazmenko (RUS)

Hungary – Romania

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan-Hendrik Salver (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Mike Pickel (GER)
Fourth Official: Tobias Welz (GER)

Slovenia – Iceland

Referee: Stavros Tritsonis (GRE)
Assistant Referee 1: Dimitrios Saraidaris (GRE)
Assistant Referee 2: Leonidas Vasileiadis (GRE)
Fourth Official: Michael Koukoulakis (GRE)

Norway – Albania

Referee: Kevin Blom (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Patrick Langkamp (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Davie Goossens (NED)
Fourth Official: Danny Makkelie (NED)

Cyprus – Switzerland

Referee: Manuel Grafe (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Markus Hacker (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Thorsten Schiffner (GER)
Fourth Official: Felix Zwayer (GER)

Israel – Portugal

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Frederic Cano (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Michael Annonier (FRA)
Fourth Official: Ruddy Buquet (FRA)

N. Ireland – Russia

Referee: Tom Harald Hagen (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Dag-Roger Nebben (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Magnus Lundberg (NOR)
Fourth Official: Dag Vidar Hafsas (NOR)

Luxembourg – Azerbaijan

Referee: Padraigh Sutton (IRL)
Assistant Referee 1: Mark Gavin (IRL)
Assistant Referee 2: Dermot Broughton (IRL)
Fourth Official: Neil Doyle (IRL)

Liechtenstein – Latvia

Referee: Kevin Clancy (SCO)
Assistant Referee 1: Graham Chambers (SCO)
Assistant Referee 2: Stuart Stevenson (SCO)
Fourth Official: Steven McLean (SCO)

Slovakia – Lithuania

Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Michael Mullarkey (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Simon Long (ENG)
Fourth Official: Anthony Taylor (ENG)

Bosnia – Greece

Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (NED)
Assistant Referee 1: Sander van Roekel (NED)
Assistant Referee 2: Erwin Zeinstra (NED)
Fourth Official: Pol van Boekel (NED)

Poland – Ukraine

Referee: Pavel Kralovec (CZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Wilczek (CZE)
Assistant Referee 2: Roman Slysko (SVK)
Fourth Official: Petr Ardeleanu (CZE)

San Marino – England

Referee: Alain Bieri (SUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Johannes Vogel (SUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Raffael Zeder (SUI)
Fourth Official: Adrien Jaccottet (SUI)

Moldova – Montenegro

Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Mauro Tonolini (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Cariolato (ITA)
Fourth Official: Paolo Mazzoleni (ITA)

Spain – Finland

Referee: Ovidiu Hategan (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Octavian Sovre (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Aurel Onita (ROU)
Fourth Official: Istvan Kovacs (ROU)

France – Georgia

Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Tomislav Petrovic (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Miro Grgic (CRO)
Fourth Official: Domagoj Vuckov (CRO)

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – CONMEBOL

22 March 2013

Peru – Chile
Referee: Diego Abal (ARG, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Hernan Maidana (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Belatti (ARG)
Fourth Official: Patricio Loustau (ARG)

Referee Observer: Ernesto Filippi (URU)

Uruguay – Paraguay

Referee: Wilmar Roldan (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Humberto Clavijo (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Eduardo Diaz (COL)
Fourth Official: Jose Buitrago (COL)

Referee Observer: Salvio Fagundes (BRA)

Colombia – Bolivia
Referee: Carlos Vera (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Byron Romero (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Lescano (ECU)
Fourth Official: Omar Ponce (ECU)

Referee Observer: Adrian Gomez (VEN)

Argentina – Venezuela

Referee: Victor Carrillo (PER)
Assistant Referee 1: Johnny Bossio (PER)
Assistant Referee 2: Raul Lopez (PER)
Fourth Official: Manuel Garay (PER)

Referee Observer: Marcelo Ortube (BOL)

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – CONCACAF

22 March 2012

USA – Costa Rica
Referee: Joel Aguilar (SLV, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Zumba (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Torres (SLV)
Fourth Official: Marlon Mejia (SLV)

Honduras – Mexico
Referee: Courtney Campbell (JAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Ricardo Morgan (JAM)
Assistant Referee 2: Garnet Page (JAM)
Fourth Official: Kevin Morrison (JAM)

Jamaica – Panama
Referee: Hector Rodriguez (HON)
Assistant Referee 1: Oscar Velazquez (HON)
Assistant Referee 2: Christian Ramirez (HON)
Fourth Official: Raul Castro (HON)

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – OFC

22 March 2013

New Zealand – New Caledonia
Referee: Strebre Delovski (AUS, photo)
Assistant referee: Ashley Beecham (AUS)
Assistant referee: Walsh David (AUS)
Fourth official: Mohd Bin Yaacob (MAS)

Tahiti – Solomon Islands
Referee: Andrew Achari (FIJ)
Assistant referee: Rakesh Chandra (FIJ)
Assistant referee: Jimmy Lukai (VAN)
Fourth official: Bruce George (VAN)

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers – CAF

23-24 March 2013

Senegal – Angola

Referee: Neant Alioum (CMR, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Evarist Menkouande (CMR)
Assistant Referee 2: Peter Edibe (NGA)
Fourth Official: Antoine Effa (CMR)

Burkina Faso – Niger

Referee: Noumandiez Doue (CIV)
Assistant Referee 1: Songuifolo Yeo (CIV)

Assistant Referee 2: Jean-Claude Birumushahu (BDI)
Fourth Official: Abou Coulibaly (CIV)

Cameroon – Togo

Referee: Djamel Haimoudi (ALG)
Assistant Referee 1: Redouane Achik (MAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Hamza Hammou (ALG)
Fourth Official: Mokhtar Amalou (ALG)

Congo – Gabon

Referee: Bakary Gassama (GAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Angesom Ogbamariam (ERI)
Assistant Referee 2: Felicien Kabanda (RWA)
Fourth Official: Sheriff Njie (GAM)

Nigeria – Kenya

Referee: Joshua Bondo (BOT)
Assistant Referee 1: Meshack Medupi (BOT)
Assistant Referee 2: Moemedi Monakwane (BOT)
Fourth Official: Kutlwano Leso (BOT)

Cote d’Ivoire – Gambia

Referee: Eric Otogo-Castane (GAB)
Assistant Referee 1: Theophile Vinga (GAB)
Assistant Referee 2: Jean Engone (GAB)
Fourth Official: Yves Roponat (GAB)

Namibia – Malawi

Referee: Med Kordi (TUN)
Assistant Referee 1: Bechir Hassani (TUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohsen Ben Salem (TUN)
Fourth Official: Nasrallah Jaouadi (TUN)

Tunisia – Sierra Leone

Referee: Mal Mohamadou (CMR)
Assistant Referee 1: Pierre Enyegue (CMR)
Assistant Referee 2: Joseph Lambi (CMR)
Fourth Official: Mandeng Cosmas (CMR)

South Africa – Central Africa

Referee: Ali Kalyango (UGA)
Assistant Referee 1: Balikoowa Ngobi (UGA)
Assistant Referee 2: Hussein Bugembe (UGA)
Fourth Official: Denis Batte (UGA)

Tanzania – Morocco

Referee: Helder Martins (ANG)
Assistant Referee 1: Manuel Candido (ANG)
Assistant Referee 2: Ricardo Daniel (ANG)
Fourth Official: Antonio Muachihuissa (ANG)

Lesotho – Zambia

Referee: Malang Diedhiou (SEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Moussa Diakhate (SEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Ababacar Sene (SEN)
Fourth Official: Ousmane Fall (SEN)

Mozambique – Guinea

Referee: El Fadil Mohamed (SDN)
Assistant Referee 1: Waleed Ahmed (SDN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohammed Hamid (SDN)
Fourth Official: Mutaz Khairalla (SDN)

Rwanda – Mali

Referee: Hamada Nampiandraza (MAD)
Assistant Referee 1: Velomanana Jinoro (MAD)
Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Andrivoavonjy (MAD)
Fourth Official: Abdoul Kanoso (MAD)

Congo DR – Libya

Referee: William Agbovi (GHA)
Assistant Referee 1: Malik Salifu (GHA)
Assistant Referee 2: David Laryea (GHA)
Fourth Official: Cecil Fleischer (GHA)

Ethiopia – Botswana

Referee: Redouane Jiyed (MAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Lahmidi (MAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Mouhib Filali (MAR)
Fourth Official: Hicham Tiazi (MAR)

Liberia – Uganda

Referee: Mohamed Farouk (EGY)
Assistant Referee 1: Sherif Hassan (EGY)
Assistant Referee 2: Tamer Dorry (EGY)
Fourth Official: Yasser Younis (EGY)

Ghana – Sudan

Referee: Anthony Raphael (MWI)
Assistant Referee 1: Jones Chimeza (MWI)
Assistant Referee 2: Clemence Kanduku (MWI)
Fourth Official: Dennis Nguluwe (MWI)

Equatorial Guinea – Cape Verde

Referee: Mahamadou Keita (MLI)
Assistant Referee 1: Balla Diarra (MLI)

Assistant Referee 2: Drissa Niare (MLI)
Fourth Official: Ousmane Karembe (MLI)

Death threat stuns Halsey

Mark Halsey is considering his refereeing future after being the subject of a death threat. He was in charge of Wigan’s clash with Newcastle in the English Premier League and missed Callum McManaman’s horror challenge on Massadio Haidara after his view was blocked. That led to him being attacked on Twitter and one threat left him shaken and unable to sleep on Sunday night. Halsey was then ‘disgusted’ after former World Cup referee Graham Poll laid into him on radio yesterday morning. A pal of Halsey said: “Mark was made aware of one particularly vile message asking for his address and claiming he deserved a death threat. Mark loves refereeing and is consistently one of the best in the game but after something like this he is left wondering whether it is all worth it. He didn’t even sleep on Sunday. Everyone can see that his view of the incident was blocked. Now he has had to hear about Graham Poll laying into him”.
Halsey, 51, is one of the most respected officials in the game and has battled back from cancer to return to refereeing. He has been in the EPL Select Group since 1999 and was on the FIFA List from 2000 to 2006. Halsey (photo) was attacked on Twitter and also came under fire from former referee Graham Poll who suggested the time could be right for him to quit. Poll said: “I see some referees who try their very hardest to run around and I get very disappointed when I see someone who doesn’t do that. Mark used to be one of the fittest referees in the Premier League. He’s been through a tough time in his life. I just hope Mark looks at it and thinks ‘is it time? Is this a signal to go?’”
Referees are unable to publicly defend themselves, but the pal said: “Mark has been left disgusted by the comments from Poll. This came from a referee who issued three yellow cards to the same player in the World Cup”.
It is not the first time Halsey has received a death threat. Last season Newcastle’s Steven Taylor revealed how Halsey had told him about other such threats.

Source: The Sun

Rafati: "I have been wronged"

After his suicide attempt from 2011 that brought him to a near-death situation, ex-referee Babak Rafati has broken his silence and made serious accusations against his former boss at the German Football Federation (DFB). In an exclusive interview with Stern, the 42-year old former FIFA referee said that he had been "wronged" before his suicide attempt and he made his former chief, the Chairman of the German Referees Committee, Herbert Fandel, responsible for his attempted suicide.
"When Herbert Fandel came in as my new boss, I have got absolutely no backing anymore. I used to learn how to cope with objective criticism, but not with personal attacks", said Rafati. He did not find any encouragement, but only experienced "cold" and "relentlessness" from Fandel. "This lack of respect for me as a human being, this withdrawal of confidence from the boss, who also had a duty of care, affected me very much. That was deflating", said Rafati (photo) in his conversation with Stern. A statement by his former boss had traumatized him so deeply that he attempted suicide on 19 November 2011. Rafati ruled out that Fandel was not informed about his unstable condition: "He knew exactly how I was hurt and the other referees knew the vilification by Fandel was the talk of the day". After the suicide attempt, moreover, no one from the leadership of the DFB tried to personally contact him, not even the former federation president Theo Zwanziger. Rafati: "That made me extremely upset afterwards. That showed me that they did not care about me”.
Herbert Fandel told Stern that Rafati’s allegations affect him emotionally. “At no time I had any knowledge of his mental illness. No one among the referees ever made hints or comments in this direction. I treated Babak Rafati like every other referee, on merit, based on professional football criteria". (
Source: Stern)

Bundesliga referees opinions
Wolfgang Stark: "I know both Herbert Fandel and Babak Rafati for a long time, but I cannot say anything about their personal relationship. I am personally never happy when I am criticized by Mr. Fandel for my matches, but I have to accept it. I can say that the criticism from Herbert Fandel - or Volker Roth in the past - is always objective and always takes place in person. I also know that, at any time, but especially in difficult situations, I can have the backing of the Referees Committee and particularly Herbert Fandel".
Deniz Aytekin: "The Referees Committee led by Herbert Fandel maintains an open and respectful relationship with referees. The rank and name of the referee does not matter. The mistakes made are consistently analyzed, professionally and detailed, by the Referees Committee in Germany. It is not an easy task to prepare and develop referees. Personally, I never heard any hurtful remarks by a member of the Referees Committee. Herbert Fandel is a good boss, who, like the other members of the Committee, promotes and demotes referees, which is a necessary process".
Knut Kircher: "Refereeing in professional leagues is a tough business. Like any other public activity, there is praise and criticism. This happens, as elsewhere, mostly by the leadership, in this case, the members of the Referees Committee. I can personally say that the criticism that each referee gets in his career is very objective and well-founded. But you can become a member of the Referees Committee and you are never quite sure how the criticism, as justified as it may be, is taken up by the human concerned officials". (Source: DFB)

Baharmast's 36 hours of agony

Referee Esfandiar Baharmast was living out a dream during the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, stepping onto the field and taking his place as the lone referee representing the United States during the tournament. But with one call, his World Cup dream morphed into a nightmare. In a critical group match between Brazil and Norway, the final minutes approached with the game tied 1-1. Baharmast watched as Brazil’s Junior Baiano pulled on the back of Tore Andre Flo’s jersey in the box as Flo was attempting to reach a cross. "A clear foul," Baharmast remembers. He called a penalty and Norway converted in the 88th minute to win the match and advance to the Round of 16. There was one problem. It wasn’t as clear to everyone else. On television, the position of the cameras didn’t see the initial jersey grab, making it look like a dive and an incorrect call. The call gave Norway a goal much to the displeasure of Morocco, who would have advanced had the match stayed a draw. A headline of one Moroccan newspaper read: "Norway saved by referee." A USA Today column asked: "How about sparing us from all inept referees?" And multiple international outlets including the International Herald-Tribune and the London Times suggested that an American referee didn’t have the experience for an important game. Even American analysts on ABC thought Baharmast had gotten it wrong and wouldn’t give him the benefit of the doubt.
A native of Iran, who came to the United States in 1972 and became a citizen in 1991, Baharmast (photo) was not short on officiating experience. He took charge of three games at the ’96 Olympics in Atlanta, had called World Cup qualifiers in South America and Asia and as well as a Spain-Nigeria game in the first round of the World Cup 10 days prior to the incident in the Brazil-Norway match. However, none of that mattered to the outside world once he blew his whistle to indicate a penalty kick for Norway in the waning moments of what was one of the tournament’s most critical matches. "I was only about six yards away, looking straight at it," Baharmast said. "For me, there was no question. It can’t be any more blatant than that. I would make the same call 10 times over. In the last minute of a game, if I’m going to call a penalty kick, it’s not going to be an imaginary penalty. Junior Baiano was the first one that left the scene of the crime." Baharmast said. "It was the other players that were giving a little bit of mouth, but nothing out of the ordinary. On the field of play there was no problem and at the end of the match there was no problem with the teams. It wasn’t until the journalists and reporters got into it and it became a conspiracy against African nations and things of that nature." Convinced that he made the correct call, Baharmast was forced to endure a day and a half of abuse from various publications and news outlets denouncing him as a racist, incompetent and a player in a scandal and conspiracy against Morocco. The fact that former French National Team coach and player Henri Michel was in charge of the Moroccan National Team didn’t help Baharmast’s case with the local media. "It wasn’t easy. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It was 36 hours of agony." Baharmast said. It wasn’t until his wife called him in the early hours of the morning to say that a Swedish television station had published a still frame clearly showing the jersey pull and validating Baharmast’s call as the correct one that the ordeal ended. The apologies came pouring in from the media that had lambasted him a day earlier and Baharmast was able to continue his successful career as a referee without being haunted by a blown call. "One French paper said the referee deserves the highest matches because he sees something that 16 cameras can’t pick up." Baharmast said. "It’s an unforgettable situation, unforgettable memory and it happened for a reason." Baharmast said. "Even years later when I go anywhere in the world and people talk about crazy situations in different World Cups, they talk about the ’98 World Cup in France and they talk about it in a positive way. They talk about how the referee was in the right position, had the courage to call a penalty in the last minute, against the World Champions and it was the correct call. So things happen for a reason and I think the reason for this was to give referees from the U.S. an opportunity to continue and move (forward) in the future."

Source: USSF

Seneme: “I failed on the track, not on the field”

Being the host country, Brazil is guaranteed a spot in the World Cup 2014 without any need to participate in qualifiers. When it comes to referees, however, there is no certainty that there will be a Brazilian trio among those 32 that will be appointed for the World Cup.
The first Brazilian who failed the FIFA fitness tests was Wilson Seneme, 42. The second was Leandro Vuaden, 37. The hope and responsibility are now with Sandro Ricci, 38, who will be evaluated next month, in Asuncion, Paraguay. Ricci gets intensive preparation to be fit in time for the test. Brazil's participation in the context of refereeing at the World Cup at home depends on him. Even the assistants, who have already passed the fitness tests, depend on him. For some reason, the physical part is the most difficult for Brazilian referees. Even among the most celebrated. Seneme (photo) is highly respected among his peers. "He is always on the move and knows how to impose on players. When a referee makes everything right, you say it <senemeou> that game, with reference to Seneme”, say his colleagues from Sao Paulo. The recognition is all what is left to Seneme after he failed the tests for 2014, since he will not have another opportunity to officiate at a World Cup because FIFA’s age-limit of 45 for referees. "I have nothing to complain about. Always knew how they would be testing and I always knew that, if will not pass, would be left out. There were no surprises", he said, before lamenting the lack of professionalization of Brazilian refereeing. "I am a state government employee in San Carlos, taking care of the organization of Open Games and Regional Games. I am unable to dedicate myself only to refereeing and, because of that, did not do the ideal physical preparation. I should have started at age 30 to pass now, at 42. At least, I failed on the track and not on the field”, said Seneme.
The test is not easy. The referees need to complete 20 runs of 150 meters in 30 seconds each, with only 50 m of recovery walk in 30 seconds between the runs. Regardless of his non-refereeing expertise, Usain Bolt would be accepted with praise. In the first test, conducted in September 2012, in Zurich, Seneme completed only one run. "I was suffering from plantar fasciitis, pain in the sole of the foot, and I failed. In January 2013, in Asuncion, I completed 12 runs and stopped. Thesting for the World Cup is very hard. It is more difficult than the regular FIFA test, where having a rest of 35 seconds helps a lot", said Seneme. Vuaden, who was the "reserve" of Seneme, also failed. Assistants Emerson Carvalho and Alessandro Rocha passed the tests and have already been approved. "For me it was easy. I did more than it was necessary," says Carvalho. He refers to 40 runs of 75 metres in 15 seconds each with 20 seconds of rest.
Not all of the tests were so hard in the past. Until 2002, referees selected for the World Cup had to complete two runs of 200 meters with 35 seconds rest and then do the Cooper test, running at least 2700 meters in 12 minutes. In 2004, Angel Maria Villar, president of the Spanish Football Federation, took over the FIFA Referees Committee and asked Belgian Werner Helsen to change the tests. As a consequence, for the World Cup in 2006 and 2010, the selected referees had to complete 24 runs of 150 metres with a rest of 35 seconds to walk 50 metres. Now, for the 2014 World Cup, the number of runs decreased, but the rest time is shorter as well. Contrary to what it may seem, it actually became more difficult. "There are less runs (20 instead of 24), but the rest is much shorter (30 sec instead of 35 sec). These are terrible", said Seneme.
The choice of referees for the World Cup in Brazil is not up to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). "FIFA decided everything; they did not consult us," said Aristeu Tavares, former chairman of the Brazilian Referees Committee, who left in late February 2013, and who, as assistant, participated in the 2006 World Cup. Carlos Simon was chosen by FIFA to represent the Brazilian refereeing at the last three World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010). He considers inadmissible for referees to fail fitness tests. "Look, I am 47 years old and still pass these FIFA tests. If my age would have allowed me, I would have competed with others to referee another World Cup". For him, the willpower is key. "I talked to Vuaden and suggested him to dedicate to refereeing during the last 3 years. Going to a World Cup is a thing worth forever. Before me, only 12 Brazilians had the chance. That is something that stays forever, but, in order to get there, you have to put aside the beer, the snack, frying food, you cannot be sedentary, you have to train every day, you have to love the career. I did all that”, said Simon. For him, the spots for South American referees are less certain. "Recently, Pierluigi Colina (the Italian referee who did the final of the 2002 World Cup and the final of the 1996 Olympics) told me that the failure rate in Europe is zero percent. Only in South America referees are crying that the test is hard. Is it hard? Yes, but if you want to get to the World Cup, you have to work hard. I cannot say I feel sad because our two referees have already been eliminated, because I took the test in August 2012 and cannot be held responsible. All I know is that from 2013 all Brazilian referees invited for a course, a conference or a tournament outside the country will be approved only if they pass a test simulated here". Tavares explained that even Sandro Ricci or Heber Lopes, his reserve, are temporary approved, but their participation in the World Cup is not guaranteed. "54 trios are currently pre-selected, but they undergo detailed analysis in four FIFA competitions (Confederation Cup, U-20 World Cup, U-17 World Cup and Club World Cup). Only then, the final trios are defined. There is a tendency of the host country being contemplated, but there is no certainty". Paul Camello has been appointed by the CBF to monitor the work of the referees. "The referees selected by FIFA to take the tests are given a set of instructions to prepare. A series of exercises they should do before testing and also competitions. I worked with Seneme and Vuaden and I suffered a lot with them. We did everything, but, as there is no professionalism in Brazil, the referees need to seek extra time to train. Sandro Ricci is following everything that FIFA asks and even hired a professional trainer. He will pass", he said.
While preparing for the test, Sandro Ricci is not allowed to give interviews. Before leaving the office, Tavares said what Roberto Patu, his coach, wrote in the report. "Ricci will pass easily. We have a partnership that began three years ago, when he had some injuries. Today, in addition to referee, he is an athlete", said Patu. Ricci (photo) is 38 and undergoes an intensive preparation. "He works six days a week and we consider a game day as a day of work. Daily work is done in the morning or late in the afternoon and aims to achieve aerobic endurance, anaerobic lactic, anaerobic analectic, power and agility", explained coach Roberto Patu. "We alternated runs of 10, 30 and 50 metres with quick runs a minute or two minutes. On other days, he makes a long run of 30 or 40 minutes. He also does jumping exercises and to increase strength". That's it? No, there's more. Ricci goes to the gym three times a week for weight training exercises. His nutrition is monitored and undergoes a diet of 2500 calories daily. "It's all about control. In the past three years, he never had a rate above 10% fat, while FIFA allows 12%. I am sure he will pass the tests in April", says Patu. If successful, Ricci will be the 14th Brazilian referee to participate in a World Cup.

Source: UOL

OFC U-20 Championship 2013

Fiji, 21-29 March 2013

Referees
1. Bertrand Billon (NCL, 1980)
2. Salesh Chand (FIJ, 1977)
3. Norbert Hauata (TAH, 1979, photo)
4. Gerald Oiaka (SOL, 1975)
5. Kader Zitouni (TAH, 1981)

Assistant Referees
1. Ravinesh Kumar (FIJ, 1982)
2. Tevita Makasini (TGA, 1976)
3. Jackson Namo (SOL, 1980)
4. Mark Rule (NZL, 1981)
5. Stephen Seniga (SOL, 1974)

CAF Champions League – Round of 32 (First Leg)

15-17 March 2013

AFAD – Coton Sport
Referee: Bouchaib El Ahrach (MAR, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Redouane Achik (MAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Mimoun Bekkali (MAR)
Fourth Official: Noureddine El Jaafari (MAR)

Bejaia – Asante Kotoko
Referee: Ousamane Fall (SEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Djibril Camara (SEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Serigne Toure (SEN)
Fourth Official: Daouda Gueye (SEN)

Premier Agosto – EST
Referee: Rajindraparsad Seechurn (MRI)
Assistant Referee 1: Vivian Vally (MRI)
Assistant Referee 2: Jean Telvar (MRI)
Fourth Official: Ganesh Chutooree (MRI)

Sewe Sport – Hilal

Referee: Ghead Grisha (EGY)
Assistant Referee 1: Sherif Hassan (EGY)
Assistant Referee 2: Ahmed Saher (EGY)
Fourth Official: Mahmoud Ashor (EGY)

Libolo – Merreikh

Referee: Hamada Nampiandraza (MAD)
Assistant Referee 1: Pierre Andrivoavony (MAD)
Assistant Referee 2: Velomanana Jinoro (MAD)
Fourth Official: Adboul Kanoso (MAD)

Zamalek – Vita

Referee: Gervais Munyanziza (RWA)
Assistant Referee 1: Felicien Kabanda (RWA)
Assistant Referee 2: Simba Onore (RWA)
Fourth Official: Abdoul Twagiramu (RWA)

St. George – Djoliba
Referee: Ali Kalyango (UGA)
Assistant Referee 1: Balikoowa Ngobi (UGA)
Assistant Referee 2: Hussein Bugembe (UGA)
Fourth Official: Nsubuga Miiro (UGA)

CAB – Dynamo

Referee: Mohamed Hussein (SDN)
Assistant Referee 1: Waleed Ahmed (SDN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohammed Hamid (SDN)
Fourth Official: Mutaz Khairalla (SDN)

Tusker – Ahly

Referee: Simanga Nhleko (SWZ)
Assistant Referee 1: Bhelisizwe Mkhabela (SWZ)
Assistant Referee 2: Petros Mbingo (SWZ)
Fourth Official: Mbongiseni Fakadze (SWZ)

Zanaco – Orlando Pirates

Referee: Helder Martins (ANG)
Assistant Referee 1: Manuel Candido (ANG)
Assistant Referee 2: Ricardo Daniel (ANG)
Fourth Official: Pedro Simao (ANG)

Mochudi Chiefs – TP Mazembe

Referee: Eric Gasinzigua (BDI)
Assistant Referee 1: Jean-Claude Birumushahu (BDI)
Assistant Referee 2: Ramadhan Nijimbere (BDI)
Fourth Official: Ndabihawe Pacific (BDI)

Vital – Rangers
Referee: Koto Osiase (LES)
Assistant Referee 1: Puputla Lesupi (LES)
Assistant Referee 2: Phatsoane Souro (LES)
Fourth Official: Mohau Sentso (LES)

FUS – Douala

Referee: Med Said Kordi (TUN)
Assistant Referee 1: Bechir Hassani (TUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Majed Rhouma (TUN)
Fourth Official: Yassine Harrouch (TUN)

Casa Sport – Stade Malienn

Referee: Davies Omweno (KEN)
Assistant Referee 1: Marwa Range (KEN)
Assistant Referee 2: Gilbert Cheruiyot (KEN)
Fourth Official: Moses Osano (KEN)

Kano Pillars – AC Leopards
Referee: Redouane Jiyed (MAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Bouazza Rouani (MAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Adbelaziz El Mehraji (MAR)
Fourth Official: Hicham Tiazi (MAR)

ASFAY – ES Setif 

Referee: Yakhouba Keita (GUI)
Assistant Referee 1: Aboulaye Sylla (GUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Mamady Tere (GUI)
Fourth Official: Baba Leno (GUI)

FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 – Prospective Referees

AFC
1. Abirami Naidu (SIN, 1983)
2. Jin He (CHN, 1987)
3. Fusako Kajiyama (JPN, 1977)
4. Ji Yeong Park (KOR, 1981)
5. Liang Qin (CHN, 1979)

6. Ok Hyang Ri (PRK, 1977)
7. Sachiko Yamagishi (JPN, 1973, photo)

CAF
1. Aissata Amegee (TOG, 1975)
2. Fadouma Dia (SEN, 1976)
3. Gladys Lengwe (ZAM, 1978)
4. Therese Neguel (CMR, 1981)
5. Therese Sagno (GUI, 1976)

CONCACAF
1. Quetzalli Alvarado (MEX, 1975)
2. Alondra Arellano (MEX, 1984)
3. Carol Anne Chenard (CAN, 1977)
4. Margaret Domka (USA, 1979)
5. Gillian Martindale (BRB, 1974)
6. Cardella Samuels (JAM, 1983)
7. Lucila Venegas (MEX, 1981)

CONMEBOL
1. Sirley Cornejo (BOL, 1979)
2. Jesica Di Iorio (ARG, 1980)
3. Ana Marques (BRA, 1979)
4. Yeimi Martinez (COL, 1981)
5. Silvia Reyes (PER, 1981)
6. Claudia Umpierrez (URU, 1983)

OFC
1. Anna-Marie Keighley (NZL, 1982)
2. Finau Vulivuili (FIJ, 1982)

UEFA
1. Jana Adamkova (CZE, 1978)
2. Teodora Albon (ROU, 1977)
3. Esther Azzopardi (MLT, 1981)
4. Christine Baitinger (GER, 1974)
5. Cristina Dorcioman (ROU, 1974)
6. Kirsi Heikkinen (FIN, 1978)
7. Katalin Kulcsar (HUN, 1984)
8. Pernilla Larsson (SWE, 1976)
9. Efthalia Mitsi (GRE, 1980)
10. Kateryna Monzul (UKR, 1981)
11. Christina Pedersen (NOR, 1981)
12. Morag Pirie (SCO, 1975)
13. Silvia Spinelli (ITA, 1970)
14. Esther Staubli (SUI, 1979)
15. Bibiana Steinhaus (GER, 1979)
16. Carina Vitulano (ITA, 1975)

UEFA Europa League – Round of 16 (Second Leg)

14 March 2013

Chelsea – Steaua

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (FRA, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Frederic Cano (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Michael Annonier (FRA)
Additional AR 1: Antony Gautier (FRA)
Additional AR 2: Ruddy Buquet (FRA)
Fourth Official: Eric Dansault (FRA)
Referee Observer: Rene Temmink (NED)

Rubin Kazan – Levante

Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (MKD)
Assistant Referee 1: Marjan Kirovski (MKD)
Assistant Referee 2: Dejan Kostadinov (MKD)
Additional AR 1: Dimitar Meckarovski (MKD)
Additional AR 2: Dejan Jakimovski (MKD)
Fourth Official: Dusko Miloseski (MKD)
Referee Observer: Konrad Plautz (AUT)

Zenit St. Petersburg – FC Basel

Referee: Pawel Gil (POL)
Assistant Referee 1: Piotr Sadczuk (POL)
Assistant Referee 2: Maciej Wierzbowski (POL)
Additional AR 1: Szymon Marciniak (POL)
Additional AR 2: Hubert Siejewicz (POL)
Fourth Official: Konrad Sapela (POL)
Referee Observer: Murat Ilgaz (TUR)

Internazionale – Tottenham

Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Tomislav Petrovic (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Miro Grgic (CRO)
Additional AR 1: Domagoj Vuckov (CRO)
Additional AR 2: Goran Gabrilo (CRO)
Fourth Official: Dalibor Conjar (CRO)
Referee Observer: Herbert Fandel (GER)

Fenerbahce – Viktoria Plzen

Referee: Manuel Grafe (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Markus Hacker (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Holger Henschel (GER)
Additional AR 1: Felix Zwayer (GER)
Additional AR 2: Tobias Welz (GER)
Fourth Official: Mike Pickel (GER)
Referee Observer: Peter Frojdfeldt (SWE)

Bordeaux – Benfica

Referee: Ovidiu Hategan (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Octavian Sovre (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Sebastian Gheorghe (ROU)
Additional AR 1: Sebastian Coltescu (ROU)
Additional AR 2: Istvan Kovacs (ROU)
Fourth Official: Radu Ghinguleac (ROU)
Referee Observer: Alfredo Trentalange (ITA)

Newcastle – Anji

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (GER)
Assistant Referee 1: Guido Kleve (GER)
Assistant Referee 2: Stefan Lupp (GER)
Additional AR 1: Marco Fritz (GER)
Additional AR 2: Robert Hartmann (GER)
Fourth Official: Thorsten Schiffner (GER)
Referee Observer: Jozef Marko (SVK)

Lazio – Stuttgart

Referee: Tom Harald Hagen (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Dag-Roger Nebben (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Sven Erik Midthjell (NOR)
Additional AR 1: Dag Vidar Hafsas (NOR)
Additional AR 2: Svein-Erik Edvartsen (NOR)
Fourth Official: Svein Inge Wiken (NOR)
Referee Observer: Sandor Piller (HUN)

CONCACAF Champions League – Quarter-finals (Second Leg)

12 March 2013
Seattle – Tigres
Referee: Elmer Bonilla (SLV, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Douglas Bermudez (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Hector Recinos (SLV)
Fourth Official: Ruben Medrano (SLV)

Monterrey – Xelaju
Referee: Marcos Brea (CUB)
Assistant Referee 1: Hiran Dopico (CUB)
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Rodriguez (CUB)
Fourth Official: David Rubalcaba (CUB)

13 March 2013
Santos Laguna – Houston Dynamo
Referee: Enrico Wijngaarde (SUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ricardo Louisville (SUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Egbert Paesch (ARU)
Fourth Official: Rudolph Angela (ARU)

Los Angeles – Herediano
Referee: Walter Lopez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 1: Gerson Lopez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 2: Ronaldo De La Cruz (GUA)
Fourth Official: Oscar Reyna (GUA)

UEFA Champions League – Round of 16 (Second Leg)

12 March 2013
FC Barcelona – AC Milan
Referee: Viktor Kassai (HUN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Gabor Eros (HUN)
Assistant Referee 2: Gyorgy Ring (HUN)
Additional AR 1: Tamas Bognar (HUN)
Additional AR 2: Mihaly Fabian (HUN)
Fourth Official: Robert Kispal (HUN)
Referee Observer: Jaap Uilenberg (NED)

Schalke – Galatasaray
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Mathias Klasenius (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Daniel Warnmark (SWE)
Additional AR 1: Stefan Johannesson (SWE)
Additional AR 2: Markus Strombergsson (SWE)
Fourth Official: Stefan Wittberg (SWE)
Referee Observer: Charles Agius (MLT)

13 March 2013
Bayern Munchen – Arsenal
Referee: Pavel Kralovec (CZE)
Assistant Referee 1: Roman Slysko (SVK)
Assistant Referee 2: Martin Wilczek (CZE)
Additional AR 1: Radek Príhoda (CZE)
Additional AR 2: Michal Patak (CZE)
Fourth Official: Antonin Kordula (CZE)
Referee Observer: Kyros Vassaras (GRE)

CF Malaga – FC Porto
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrea Stefani (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Renato Faverani (ITA)
Additional AR 1: Luca Banti (ITA)
Additional AR 2: Paolo Mazzoleni (ITA)
Fourth Official: Riccardo Di Fiore (ITA)
Referee Observer: Ilkka Koho (FIN)

Copa Libertadores – Group Stage (Matchday 5)

12 March 2013
Universidad – Newells Old Boys

Referee: Wilmar Roldan (COL)
Assistant Referee 1: Humberto Clavijo (COL)
Assistant Referee 2: Eduardo Diaz (COL)
Fourth Official: Carlos Ulloa (CHI)
Referee Observer: Pablo Pozo (CHI)

Velez Sarsfield – Penarol
Referee: Leandro Vuaden (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Emerson Carvalho (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Alessandro Rocha (BRA)
Fourth Official: Diego Ceballos (ARG)
Referee Observer: Miguel Scime (ARG)

Caracas – Gremio

Referee: Oscar Maldonado (BOL)
Assistant Referee 1: Efrain Castro (BOL)
Assistant Referee 2: Arol Valda (BOL)
Fourth Official: Mayker Gomez (VEN)
Referee Observer: Bernardo Corujo (VEN)

Sporting Cristal – Libertad

Referee: Roberto Silvera (URU)
Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Nievas (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Marcelo Costa (URU)
Fourth Official: Diego Haro (PER)
Referee Observer: Alberto Tejada (PER)

13 March 2013
Barcelona – Toluca

Referee: Enrique Caceres (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Rodney Aquino (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Dario Gaona (PAR)

Fourth Official: Carlos Orbe (ECU)
Referee Observer: Rogger Zambrano (ECU)

Deportivo Lara – Olimpia

Referee: Roberto Garcia (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Camargo (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Alberto Morin (MEX)
Fourth Official: Jose Hoyo (VEN)
Referee Observer: Adrian Gomez (VEN)

Corinthians – Tijuana

Referee: Enrique Osses (CHI)
Assistant Referee 1: Francisco Mondria (CHI)
Assistant Referee 2: Carlos Astroza (CHI)
Fourth Official: Francisco Nascimento (BRA)
Referee Observer: Salvio Fagundes (BRA)

The Strongest – Atletico Mineiro

Referee: Julio Quintana (PAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Carlos Caceres (PAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR)
Fourth Official: Johnny Cuellar (BOL)
Referee Observer: Marcelo Ortube (BOL)

14 March 2013
Nacional – Boca Juniors

Referee: Paulo Oliveira (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Marcelo Van Gasse (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Fabricio Vilarinho (BRA)
Fourth Official: Andres Cunha (URU)
Referee Observer: Carlos Velasquez (URU)

San Jose – Millonarios

Referee: Patricio Loustau (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Ernesto Uziga (ARG)
Assistant Referee 2: Ezequiel Brailovsky (ARG)
Fourth Official: Jose Jordan (BOL)
Referee Observer: Oscar Ortube (BOL)

Arsenal – Sao Paulo

Referee: Omar Ponce (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Luis Alvarado (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Byron Romero (ECU)
Fourth Official: Mauro Vigliano (ARG)
Referee Observer: Abel Gnecco (ARG)

Attacked by players, Lebanese referee quits

Lebanese referee Bachir Awasa was glad to have escaped alive after being assaulted by players and staff in a domestic second division match last weekend but the official has decided to quit following the horrid experience. Awasa was kicked and chased around the pitch in Beirut after showing a red card to an Al-Nahda player in Saturday's match against Al-Salam Zgharta.
"From the reaction of the players and the staff I expected to be harmed in a grave way... to be honest I did not expect to get out alive," the referee told Al Jadeed television on Friday. "Usually, whenever we issue a red card we expect a reaction from the player ... and indeed that is what happened. He ran after me and attacked me. "When he tried to hit me I tried to run and then coach Mahmoud Seif Eddine also attacked me and other staff ran after me and things got out of hand and I tried to run from one place to the other".
Lebanese football is already battling a major image crisis after the FA handed out various penalties to 24 players, including life bans for defender Ramez Dayoub and forward Mahmoud El-Ali, following allegations that international and regional games were rigged. Awasa urged the football association to protect the referees, while ruling out reversing his decision to quit. "It's my final decision", he said.

Source: Reuters