The position of a match official at a World Cup is commonly a thankless job.

Whereas gamers are heaped with reward after they do excellent work, referees are not often hailed for doing their job effectively. As a substitute, they’re routinely lambasted – by gamers, managers and followers over the slightest of errors.

The fact is that the high-stakes position requires a complete information of the sport’s guidelines, an elite health stage – usually requiring them to run greater than outfield gamers – and years of exhausting work.

For World Cup 2022, FIFA has launched an inventory of 36 referees, 69 assistant referees and 24 video match officers overseeing the video assistant referee (VAR) system.This would be the first World Cup with feminine match officers – referees Stéphanie Frappart (France), Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda) and Yoshimi Yamashita  (Japan); assistant referees Neuza Again (Brazil), Karen Díaz Medina (Mexico) and Kathryn Nesbitt (US).

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will even see the introduction of the brand new Synthetic Intelligence (AI)-based Semi-Automated Offside Expertise. The system at the moment being trialled within the UEFA Champions League group levels is designed to enhance the accuracy of offside choices. Cameras put in below the roof of the stadium monitor all 22 gamers recording information factors and calculating their precise place on the pitch.

Referees will even utilise goal-line expertise, launched throughout the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The system makes use of 14 high-speed cameras to create a 3D picture animation that may notify the referee instantly if the ball has crossed the road.

Who will referee the 2022 World Cup?

AFC – Asian Soccer Confederation

• Six referees
• 10 assistant referees
• 4 video match officers

Abdulrahman al-Jassim (Qatar) – The 35-year-old Qatari has been a FIFA referee since 2013 and has officiated a number of high-profile fixtures. He labored as a VAR official at Russia 2018. He has additionally refereed on the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and the 2019 FIFA Membership World Cup last between Liverpool and Clube de Regatas do Flamengo.

Chris Beath (Australia) – Like al-Jassim, Beath made a reputation for himself on the worldwide stage by refereeing on the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and the FIFA Membership World Cup.

Alireza Faghani (Iran) – Hailing from Kashmar in northeast Iran, Faghani performed soccer within the nation’s third tier earlier than finally shifting into refereeing. He refereed the 2014 AFC Champions League last, the 2018 World Cup and now plies his commerce in Australia’s A-League.

Alireza Faghani, one of many high referees on the planet, will change into a full-time referee for the 2019/20 @ALeague season! pic.twitter.com/pTpf9ZX8WH

— AFC (@theafcdotcom) September 20, 2019

Ma Ning (China) – Ma Ning is just the second Chinese language referee to take part within the World Cup.

Mohammed Abdulla Mohamed (UAE) – The Emirati has been a FIFA referee since 2010 and has refereed on the AFC Asian Cup.

Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan) – In April 2022, Yamashita turned the primary feminine official to supervise an AFC Champions League match wherein she issued three yellow playing cards to Melbourne Metropolis.

“I need it to be seen as completely regular for ladies to referee males’s video games, so what is going on in Qatar must proceed. I really feel a specific amount of stress to win everybody’s belief.”

CAF – Confederation of African soccer

• Six referees
• 10 assistant referees
• Two video match officers

Bakary Papa Gassama (Gambia) – This might be Gassama’s third World Cup look after Brazil 2018 and Russia 2018.

Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria) – The 37-year-old Algerian has refereed a number of worldwide matches, together with the 2020 CAF Champions League last between Egyptian sides Zamalek and Al Ahly, wherein he issued two crimson playing cards and 5 yellow playing cards.

Victor Gomes (South Africa) – A troublesome-talking no-nonsense referee, Gomes has made headlines on multiple event. In 2018, he reportedly turned down a $30,000 bribe to repair a CAF Confederation Cup sport between Nigeria’s Plateau United and Algeria’s USM Alger. Within the 2021 AFCON last, Gomes sternly informed Egyptian celebrity Mohammed Salah to cease complaining earlier than sarcastically providing him his whistle.

Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda) – Mukansanga is repeatedly making historical past. She is the primary lady from her native Rwanda to referee the FIFA Girls’s World Cup, the primary lady to ever officiate on the African Cup of Nations and now one of many first ladies to referee on the males’s World Cup.

Janny Sikazwe (Zambia) – Sikazwe boasts a formidable CV, having refereed the 2016 FIFA Membership World Cup last and the 2017 AFCON last and turning into the primary Zambian referee to officiate a World Cup in 2018.

Nonetheless, he’s maybe greatest remembered for incorrectly calling full-time within the eighty fifth and 89th minute in an AFCON conflict between Tunisia and Mali in January this 12 months. It later emerged that he had suffered warmth stroke and was later taken to hospital.

Maguette Ndiaye (Senegal) – The Senegalese referee officiated a number of matches on the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

CONCACAF – Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Affiliation Soccer.

• 5 referees
• 12 assistant referees
• Three video match officers

Ivan Barton (Salvador) – Iván Barton, aged 30, has officiated on the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, overseeing the semi-final between Jamaica and the USA and the CONCACAF Nations League.

Ismail Elfath (United States) – Born in Morocco, Elfath got here to the US when he was 18 years of age after successful a visa lottery. He made his MLS refeering debut in 2011 and since then has change into one of many nation’s most revered officers, choosing up the MLS Referee of the 12 months award twice previously three years. He has officiated at a number of worldwide tournaments, together with the semi-final of the 2019 Membership World Cup.

Congratulations to Ismail Elfath, the 2022 MLS Referee of the 12 months! 👏 pic.twitter.com/AugFkcoJ0r

— Main League Soccer (@MLS) October 14, 2022

Mario Escobar (Guatemala) – The 36 12 months outdated has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2013 and officiated a number of CONCACAF tournaments.

Stated Martinez (Honduras) – At 31 years of age, Stated is one in every of three referees from Central America to officiate on the 2022 World Cup. Stated, who additionally has a level in Arithmetic, refereed the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup last between the USA and Mexico, issuing three yellow playing cards in additional time.

César Ramos (Mexico) – The 38-year-old Mexican has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2014. He officiated three matches on the 2018 World Cup, together with a gaggle stage 1-1 draw between Brazil and Switzerland. Through the sport, the Brazil gamers expressed their displeasure with Ramos after he dismissed claims of fouls on two events and dominated out any VAR evaluation.

CONMEBOL – South American Soccer Confederation

• Seven referees
• 15 assistant referees
• 4 video match officers

Raphael Claus (Brazil) – The skilled Brazilian most just lately refereed on the 2021 Copa América.

Andres Matias Matonte Cabrera (Uruguay) – The Uruguayan most just lately officiated on the Arab Cup in 2021. He oversaw Qatar’s 5-0 quarter-final win over UAE, wherein he issued two penalties inside eight minutes of one another.

Kevin Ortega (Peru) – At 30, the Peruvian referee is without doubt one of the youngest on the airplane to Qatar. He has officiated a number of high-pressure matches, together with a semi-final within the 2020 Summer season Olympics between Spain and Japan.

Fernando Rapallini (Argentina) – The Argentine boasts a wealth of expertise officiating within the Argentinian Primera División and worldwide tournaments. Rapallini made historical past in 2021 when he turned the primary South American referee to officiate at a European Championship.

Wilton Sampaio (Brazil) – The 40-year-old has been FIFA-listed since 2013 and most just lately officiated on the 2021 Copa América.

Facundo Tello (Argentina) – Tello made a reputation for himself in Argentina after being chosen to referee within the nation’s first division after solely 4 matches within the second tier. In 2021, he travelled to Qatar to officiate within the 2021 FIFA Arab World Cup.

Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela) – The 38 12 months outdated was first listed as a FIFA referee in 2013. In July 2021, he officiated the notorious semi-final between Colombia and Argentina within the Copa América, wherein Valenzuela dished out 10 yellow playing cards.

There have been 20 (!!!) fouls referred to as within the first half of Argentina-Colombia 🤕 pic.twitter.com/GJEugKppV8

— Worldwide Champions Cup (@IntChampionsCup) July 7, 2021

OFC – Oceania Soccer Confederation

• One referee
• Two assistant referees

Matthew Conger (New Zealand) – Since Australia joined the AFC in 2006, Conger is the one referee representing the OFC on the 2022 World Cup. Initially from Texas, within the US, the part-time instructor refereed one group stage match within the 2018 World Cup.

UEFA  – Union of European Soccer Associations

• 11 referees
• 20 assistant referees
• 11 video match officers

Istvan Kovacs (Romania) – The veteran goalkeeper is about to officiate at his first World Cup this 12 months, having impressed in latest matches, together with the Manchester Metropolis versus Actual Madrid thriller earlier this 12 months within the Champions League. Kovacs performed a wise benefit permitting Bernado Silva to rifle dwelling a shot after Toni Kroos fouled Oleksandr Zinchenko within the build-up.

Stephanie Frappart (France) – Frappart plies her commerce in France’s Ligue 1 however has notched a number of high-profile worldwide appearances just lately, together with the 2019 UEFA Tremendous Cup between Liverpool and Chelsea. In 2020, she turned the primary lady to referee a Champions League match. In 2022, she officiated the 2022 Coupe de France last between Good and Nantes.

👏 You simply like to see it

💪 Stephanie Frappart turns into the primary lady to referee a males’s @ChampionsLeague match

🛣 Approach to blaze a path, Stephanie pic.twitter.com/j20ywQi4Z1

— FIFA Girls’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) December 2, 2020

Danny Makkelie (The Netherlands) – The skilled Dutch referee and part-time policeman has lengthy officiated high-profile matches, together with the 2018 Europa League last. The 4 matches he refereed throughout final 12 months’s European Championships made him a family title. Within the semi-final between Denmark and England at Wembley, Makkelie awarded a controversial penalty to England that allowed them to progress to the ultimate.

Szymon Marciniak (Poland) – The 41-year-old Polish referee comes with baggage of expertise, having notched up three video games on the 2016 European Championships and two on the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Antonio Mateu Lahoz(Spain) – The Spaniard is thought for his unorthodox chatty method to officiating however is extremely rated by UEFA, who entrusted him with officiating the 2021 Champions League last. Within the 2020 European Championships, Mateu oversaw a fractious 2-2 draw between France and Portugal within the group levels, wherein he awarded three penalties and 4 yellow playing cards.

Michael Oliver (England) – The English referee comes with loads of home expertise, officiating high-profile video games, such because the 2021 FA Cup last. Oliver has additionally change into a daily within the Champions League, the place he’s maybe greatest remembered for awarding a penalty to Actual Madrid that in the end led to their development on the expense of Juventus. The choice sparked the often calm and picked up Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon to accuse Oliver of getting a “trash can” for a coronary heart.

Daniele Orsato (Italy) – A mainstay of the Champions League, Orsato has refereed each 2020 Champions League last between Bayern Munich and PSG. He additionally labored as a VAR referee throughout the 2018 World Cup.

Daniel Siebert (Germany) – He officiated three matches on the 2020 European Championships and was the referee for the 2021 Arab Cup last between Tunisia and Algeria.

Anthony Taylor (England) – The 44-year-old referee has just lately been entrusted with fixtures such because the Nations League last between France and Spain. He refereed Denmark versus Finland match within the 2020 European Championships the place Christain Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch. Taylor was praised for recognizing the state of affairs rapidly and swiftly organising medical therapy.

Clement Turpin (France) – Turpin has officiated on the 2016 and 2020 European Championships and the 2018 World Cup. Within the 2021-22 season, he officiated 9 matches within the UEFA Champions League, together with the ultimate.

Slavko Vincic (Slovenia) – Vincic, a certified telecommunications engineer, was inspired to strive refereeing by his uncle when he was 20 years outdated. Eleven years later, he was listed as a FIFA referee. He officiated three matches within the 2020 European Championships. He was the referee for this 12 months’s Europa League last between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers.

In 2020 Vincic made headlines after being arrested in reference to a police probe right into a prostitution and medicines ring working in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has been cleared of any wrongdoing.