Australia secures strong presence on FIFA Panel of International Referees for 2021

Football Australia is pleased to announce that 26 Australian Match Officials have been selected on the FIFA Panel of International Referees for 2021.

The longest serving Australian FIFA Match Official on the current list is Assistant Referee Matthew Cream. Cream, from South Australia, has held a FIFA badge since 2000. Throughout his respected career in the game, Cream has officiated at a range of FIFA tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014™ and the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014™.

Sarah Ho, who was elevated to the FIFA Panel of International Referees in 2004, is the longest serving Australian female on the Panel. New South Wales based Ho has officiated at three of the past four FIFA Women's World Cups™ (2007, 2011, and 2015), and has her sights set on refereeing at the FIFA Women's World Cup™ on home soil in 2023.

Football Australia Chairman and Chair of Football Australia's Referees Committee, Mr Chris Nikou, congratulated all the Match Officials for retaining their position on the distinguished list.

"It is welcome news and a sign of the esteem in which Australian Match Officials are held globally, that Australia has secured a strong cohort of Match Officials on the international panel, and congratulations must go to each individual for displaying the dedication and professionalism required to once again be recognised by FIFA at the highest level," Nikou said.

"Due to the global impacts of COVID-19 2020 was a lean year for international football, however it is expected that international fixtures and tournaments will increase throughout 2021.

"As that occurs, FIFA will have 26 expert Australian Match Officials ready and eager for appointments, each with the ability to implement the Laws of the Game to a world class standard."

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Johnson, said the developing world class Australian Match Officials is paramount for Football Australia, and the game at large.

"Match Officials are an important contributor to our game, particularly the on-field product, and are critical to football at all levels. Developing our Match Officials to a world class standard is a central focus of Principle Six of the XI Principles for the future of Australian football," Johnson explained.

"In line with the measures proposed in Principle Six, Football Australia will continue to lead work to develop the pathways and opportunities available to Australian Match Officials, which will help service the grassroots and community game, our National Premier Leagues, as well as the Professional Leagues. Football Australia will also continue to appoint Australia's top referees to the Professional Leagues."

Five of Australia's match officials - Kate Jacewicz, Casey Reibelt, Sarah Ho, Chris Beath, and Shaun Evans - have also been acknowledged by FIFA in the newly created role of Video Match Official (VMO). VMO's are able to perform either Video Assistant Referee (VAR) or Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR) roles at FIFA matches and tournaments where VAR is being implemented.

Australian Match Officials on the FIFA Panel of International Referees 2021

*Match officials listed in bold also assigned to FIFA's newly created Video Match Official (VMO) Panel.