Kanga Cup Referee Youth Academy: Know your AFC Asian Cup 2015 Referees

Happy New Year everyone,

Well it's the AFC Asian Cup already - where did that time go?? A few days ago the panel of referees and assistant referees was released and 14 referees (3 reserve), 26 assistants (4 reserve) was released onto the net. So given we have a rare opportunity to see the best officials from AFC in our own back yard, I figured it might be good to be able to put a face and a few facts to the list. As per big tournament style, there are effectively 11 trios selected with reserves mixing in where needed.

The group is staying in Sydney and flying in/out of the 5 venues as appointed, with a three day window which looks like this:
Matchday -1 fly in to host city, met by Referees Liaison volunteer, check in to hotel, light training session / relax / visit to ground?
Matchday - gameday, at the ground -3hrs prior
Matchday +1 - return to Sydney

There has even been some pre-tournament photos posted by the AFC on Facebook. Hopefully more pictures will appear during the tournament and where possible I'll try and post appointments once they are released for those interested (hint hint Mr. Wilson).

A full range of warm up matches have been keeping the local FFA boys busy, with some first international experiences for Kanga Cup alumni Owen Goldrick, Matthew Cropper, Daniel Olsen, Dylan Lambert, Luke Withell.
Well done guys, you can now sit back for a few weeks and watch the Current Elite do their stuff.

Goodluck to all officials and the 4th team = volunteers. I'll be working with the Technical Study Group myself, so hope to get some great pictures along the way when I'm not running around Brisbane Stadium.

So here's the list - enjoy the tournament. Edit 9/1/15 - This list is not complete

Referees

Ben Williams (Australia) 37yo, FIFA badge since 2005, You'd have to be living under a rock to not know the story on Ben - WC Finals 2014 (2 group games, 1st Australian to referee a 2nd round match) , AFC Ref of Year 2013, FIFA 2013 U20 WC, 2012 Olympics, AFC 2012 Asian Champions League Final, WC2010 Qualifiers, so here's a recent blog article from the Dutch Referee Blog

FIFA WC2014 Video Profile

Assistants

Matthew Cream (Australia)

Paul Cetrangolo (Australia)

Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain), 38yo, FIFA badge since 2008, attended 2011 FIFA U/17 WC, 2012 FIFA World Club Cup and WC2014. Nawaf along with his Bahraini assistants Yaser Tolefat and Ebrahim Sabt officiated two matches in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup. The first match was between Spain and Australia, few days later they received a call-up for the Portugal-Ghana match *Wikipedia

FIFA WC 2014 Video Profile

Assistants

Yaser Tulefat (Bahrain)

Ebrahim Saleh (Bahrain)

Alireza Faghani (Iran), 36yo, FIFA badge since 2008, 2009 AFC Presidents Cup Final, 2010 AFC Challenge Cup (playoff match with the winner entering the 2011 AFC Asian Cup), 4th official WC2014 opening match, and is well know in Parramatta as the referee of the first leg for the 2014 AFC Champions Leg. Currently refereeing in the Iran Pro League domestically * Wikipedia

FIFA WC 2014 Video Profile

Assistants
Reza Sokhandan (Iran)

Reza Abolfazli (Iran)

Ryuji Sato (Japan), 37yo FIFA badge since 2004, 2010 East Asian Championship, AFC Champions League 2012/2013/2014 and AFC Asian Cup (including a Wanders quarter final) and officiated on AFC 2014 Asian Cup qualifiers. He officiates in the J League Div 1 domestically. http://worldreferee.com

Assistants
Toru Sagara (Japan)

Toshiyuki Nagi (Japan)

Kim Jong Hyeok (Korea Republic), 31yo, FIFA badge since 2009, officiated in 2014 WC qualifiers,

He officiates in the K-League domestically.

Image fixed 23/1/15

Assistants
Jeong Hae-Sang (South Korea)

Yang Byoung-Eun (South Korea)

Abdullah Al Hilali (Oman), 45yo, FIFA badge since 2002, Olympics 2008 (becoming the first Omani to do so), shortlisted for WC2010 (including Aus -v- Bahrain qualifier), WC2014 qualifiers, AFC Asian Cup 2011, and 39 matches in the AFC Champions League since 2008. A former solider, his one of the most experienced in the group. *Various sources

Assistants
Hamad Al-Mayahi (Oman)

Abu Bakar Al Amri (Oman)

Fahad Al-Mirdasi (Saudi Arabia), 29yo, FIFA badge since 2011, AFC Presidents Cup qualifier 2012, U/22 Asian Cup qualifier, AFC U/19 Champions 2014, AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and most recently in the AFC Gulf Cup. PE Teacher, Fahad officiates in the Saudi Pro League. *http://au.soccerway.com/

Assistants
Badr Al-Shumrani (Saudi Arabia)

Abdulla Al Shalwai (Saudi Arabia)

Abdulrahman Abdou (Qatar), 42yo, FIFA badge since 2006, AFC Asian Cup 2007 & 2011 (Aus -v- Iraq), 7 seasons of AFC Champions League, AFC U/19 Championships, U20 WC 2011 and WC2014 qualifiers. Highly experienced, works in ICT and officiates in the Qatar Star League *http://www.worldfootball.net/

Assistants
Taleb Al-Marri (Qatar)

Ramzan Al-Naemi (Qatar)

Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (UAE), 37yo, FIFA badge since 2010, AFC Asian Cup 2011 - 2013, AFC Champions League 2014 (Wanderers -v- Guangzhou Evergrande Quarter Final), AFC U/22 Championship Final 2014, AFC U/19 Championship 2014 *http://worldreferee.com/

Assistants

Hasan Al Mahri (UAE)

Mohamed Al Hammadi (UAE)

Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan), 37yo, FIFA badge since 2003, FIFA 2007 U/20 WC, FIFA Club WC Final 2008 & 2011, FIFA WC 2010 (3 group matches, 1 quarter, 1 semi, youngest referee in WC2010) & WC2014 (3 group matches, 1 quarter final), AFC 2011 Asian Cup Final, 2012 Summer Olympics. Exceptionally talented and a strong candidate for the final given his World Cup form, also AFC Referees of the Year on 5 separate years. * http://en.wikipedia.org

The Dutch Referee Blog article - Ravshan was awarded a car by his country for WC2014 performance

FIFA WC2014 Ref Profile