After having met on 17th and 18th October, FIFA's referee committee has appointed seven trios to take control over December's 2012 Club World Cup which will be, like in the past years, hosted by Japan.
Although they are competitions solely joined by clubs and not by national teams, these annual Club World Cups are actually of fundamental relevance for the selection of the 2014 World Cup officials, since the main condition the chosen referees and assistant referees had to fulfill is being on the short list for the 20th World Cup. In addition, it is certainly an opportunity for these referees to show their skills and collect experiences in an international competition. However, it may be questioned to what extent a tournament with only eight matches allows that at all...
The most meaningful circumstance of this competition is that FIFA will test their recently approved Goal-Line Technology for the first time ever in an official competition.
The most meaningful circumstance of this competition is that FIFA will test their recently approved Goal-Line Technology for the first time ever in an official competition.
Besides, it is rumoured that the officials who will attend this year's Club World Cup could be excluded from the youth World Cups and Confed Cup in 2013. But now, let's talk about those who have been selected.
Asia (AFC zone)
First, the good news is that FIFA has finally gathered its wits and realized that the whole seven slots AFC has got on the prospective list of referees for 2014 World Cup do not only consist of the name Irmatov. However, they still do not bestow a FIFA competition bow on Alireza Faghani, who maintains the only Asian official on the list without a FIFA competition match as main referee. Faghani, Kamranifar and Sokhandan, all from Iran, will attend the tournament as reserve trio.
Instead, another aspiring official has been nominated.
Instead, another aspiring official has been nominated.
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| Nawaf Shukralla (2nd left) (c) flickr |
After having participated in 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Bahrain's Nawaf Ghayyath Shukralla has been invited for the second time by FIFA to attend a FIFA organized tournament prior to 2014 World Cup. In Mexico, where the tournament was held, he lost his assistants due to failed fitness tests and only refereed two matches including the round of 16 match between Argentina and England.
In October 2012, it was made public that Shukralla would be in charge of 2012 AFC Champions League final (in South Korea on 10 November), which means his first final in an internationally prestigious competition.
At Japan's Club World Cup, the Bahraini will be accompanied by Yaser Abdulla Tulefat and Ebrahim Saleh, both of Bahrain. As the quality shown by officials like Ravshan Irmatov, Yuichi Nishimura, Ali Al Badwawi and also Benjamin Williams has been very high at their past FIFA involvements, Shukralla's way to a potential World Cup is certainly stony; FIFA and its committee therefore must have very high expectations from him.
Africa (CAF zone)
Algeria's Djamel Haimoudi will head the only African trio at the tournament. After his compatriot Benouza's appearance at a Club World Cup (in 2008) and Mohammed Guezzaz of Morocco (in 2005), this will be the third time for North African referees to officiate at this tournament.
For the 41-year old Algerian, it is also the second FIFA tournament in his career. He attended Colombia's U-20 World Cup in 2011 and refereed three matches including the round of 16 clash between Portugal and Guatemala where he decided the match with a wrong penalty kick decision. There has been a change with regard to his assistant referees by the way. After Foaad El Maghrabi and Ayman Degaish, his new assistant referees are the experienced Redouane Achik of Morocco, who stayed in one's mind for a brilliant onside call in the 2010 World Cup match between Slovenia and USA, and the significantly younger Algerian Abdelhak Etchiali.
Having been elected as best Arabian referee in 2011, it is quite difficult to point out the chances Haimoudi has got with regard to the next World Cup. With Belaid Lacarne, he naturally has someone in the FIFA committee who could be able to push him a bit. Nevertheless, the aspect which I most connect with this referee is an excessive usage of his whistle, specially after scored goals. So please Mr Haimoudi: save our ears!
North - and Central America and the Caribbeans (CONCACAF zone)
Instead of appointing a referee who could need as much international and intercontinental experience as possible, FIFA has taken the decision to appoint someone who is certainly no "no-name", specially in Australia or Chile. Two times World Cup referee Marco Rodríguez of Mexico, widely called "Chiquidracula" or "Chiquimarco", will attend the Club World Cup for the second time. Assisted by Marvin Torrentera and Marcos Quintero, the teacher who works at a German school in Mexico City will therefore go to his seventh FIFA organized tournament.
In 2007, he took charge of the Club World Cup's final between Boca Juniors and AC Milan, where he dismissed two players. His card statistics are unbelievable. In 15 matches at FIFA organized tournaments, he issued 83 yellow cards and dismissed 15 players. Consequently, the players should be warned..
South America (CONMEBOL zone)
Carlos Vera is the first Ecuadorian ever to take charge of a FIFA Club World Cup. The 36-year old was never in charge of a FIFA organized tournament, nor of more than a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal in South America. This tournament will be fundamental for FIFA to figure out whether he is a referee to be regarded as promising for 2014 World Cup. Therefore it may be presumed that they'll appoint him for two matches at this competition. Personally, I cannot imagine that this will stay his last FIFA tournament before 2014, as such a short and swift tournament like the Club World Cup is surely unable to create a profound image him.
Two very young assistant referees are accompanying Vera on the prospective list and also at Japan's Club World Cup: 1983 born Christian Lescano (who also accompanied Omar Ponce in 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup) and 1980 born Byron Romero.
Oceania (OFC zone)
It is honestly speaking quite annoying to always repeat oneself. Peter O'Leary (photo) of New Zealand will again take charge of a Club World Cup (for the fifth time; he always stayed with one match the previous three times), it will be his ninth appearance at an international FIFA competition.
After a good and promising U-20 World Cup in Colombia with four matches, where he partly showed very good performances, and Michael Hester's retirement, everything seemed to be ready for O'Leary to finally referee a World Cup match himself. However, he then received the second lowest mark of our blog observers at 2012 Olympic Games, where his first match (UA Emirates - Uruguay) was also his last one. His assistant referees Jan Hendrik Hintz of New Zealand and Ravinesh Kumar of Fiji revealed weaknesses in different terms, but will accompany him again.
Tahiti's Norbert Hauata has to stay at home again, nonetheless, his time will and must come I suppose. At this point, one may again outline the aptitude of New Zealand's federation. Instead of risking that there will be a World Cup without a New Zealander, they just split their officials onto both available trios so that they then can boast at any rate how excellent they have done their work, since there is a NZL official at a World Cup...just a theory? I am not sure..
Europe (UEFA zone)
Last but not least, UEFA's representative. Turkish official Cüneyt Çakır will head his common team further consisting of Bahattin Duran and Tarik Ongun at this tournament. After five matches at 2011 U-20 World Cup in Colombia, this is another device that not only UEFA, but also FIFA has taken a fancy to this referee.
After a very good performance in last season's UEFA Champions League semifinal between Barcelona and Chelsea, he became one of those referees at 2012 UEFA Euro who were spared from crucial mistakes and who showed two good performances in both group stage matches. Not many officials managed that at this European Championship. The logical consequence was the circumstance that Çakır had the honour to take control over the Iberian semifinal between Spain and Portugal and furthermore accompanying Pedro Proenca in the final match as fourth official. In addition, one has to underline he was the first Turkish referee ever who managed that.
Without any doubt and with the benefit of hindsight, one can state that this referee is one of the best "accomplishments" since Collina is joining UEFA's referee committee and that he certainly counts to 2012's top3 in Europe. One of his key elements are his mental strength, phlegm and partly zero tolerance style.
One may raise doubts concerning the sense of appointing him for this tournament, anyway, there will be enough opportunities for other referees, who have not made their FIFA debut like Milorad Mazic or Jonas Eriksson, to still show their skills in one of the three major FIFA competitions in 2013 - probably, Çakır will attend one of them as well: the U-20 World Cup is going to take place in his mother country Turkey.
Related Item:
2012 FIFA Club World Cup - Match Officials
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| Djamel Haimoudi (c) maracana |
Having been elected as best Arabian referee in 2011, it is quite difficult to point out the chances Haimoudi has got with regard to the next World Cup. With Belaid Lacarne, he naturally has someone in the FIFA committee who could be able to push him a bit. Nevertheless, the aspect which I most connect with this referee is an excessive usage of his whistle, specially after scored goals. So please Mr Haimoudi: save our ears!
North - and Central America and the Caribbeans (CONCACAF zone)
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| Marco Rodríguez (l.), one of his 15 red cards (c) ZIMBIO |
Instead of appointing a referee who could need as much international and intercontinental experience as possible, FIFA has taken the decision to appoint someone who is certainly no "no-name", specially in Australia or Chile. Two times World Cup referee Marco Rodríguez of Mexico, widely called "Chiquidracula" or "Chiquimarco", will attend the Club World Cup for the second time. Assisted by Marvin Torrentera and Marcos Quintero, the teacher who works at a German school in Mexico City will therefore go to his seventh FIFA organized tournament.
In 2007, he took charge of the Club World Cup's final between Boca Juniors and AC Milan, where he dismissed two players. His card statistics are unbelievable. In 15 matches at FIFA organized tournaments, he issued 83 yellow cards and dismissed 15 players. Consequently, the players should be warned..
South America (CONMEBOL zone)
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| Carlos Vera (c) deportespe.terra |
Two very young assistant referees are accompanying Vera on the prospective list and also at Japan's Club World Cup: 1983 born Christian Lescano (who also accompanied Omar Ponce in 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup) and 1980 born Byron Romero.
Oceania (OFC zone)
It is honestly speaking quite annoying to always repeat oneself. Peter O'Leary (photo) of New Zealand will again take charge of a Club World Cup (for the fifth time; he always stayed with one match the previous three times), it will be his ninth appearance at an international FIFA competition.
After a good and promising U-20 World Cup in Colombia with four matches, where he partly showed very good performances, and Michael Hester's retirement, everything seemed to be ready for O'Leary to finally referee a World Cup match himself. However, he then received the second lowest mark of our blog observers at 2012 Olympic Games, where his first match (UA Emirates - Uruguay) was also his last one. His assistant referees Jan Hendrik Hintz of New Zealand and Ravinesh Kumar of Fiji revealed weaknesses in different terms, but will accompany him again.Tahiti's Norbert Hauata has to stay at home again, nonetheless, his time will and must come I suppose. At this point, one may again outline the aptitude of New Zealand's federation. Instead of risking that there will be a World Cup without a New Zealander, they just split their officials onto both available trios so that they then can boast at any rate how excellent they have done their work, since there is a NZL official at a World Cup...just a theory? I am not sure..
Europe (UEFA zone)
Last but not least, UEFA's representative. Turkish official Cüneyt Çakır will head his common team further consisting of Bahattin Duran and Tarik Ongun at this tournament. After five matches at 2011 U-20 World Cup in Colombia, this is another device that not only UEFA, but also FIFA has taken a fancy to this referee.
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| Cüneyt Çakır (TUR) (c) inbol.net |
After a very good performance in last season's UEFA Champions League semifinal between Barcelona and Chelsea, he became one of those referees at 2012 UEFA Euro who were spared from crucial mistakes and who showed two good performances in both group stage matches. Not many officials managed that at this European Championship. The logical consequence was the circumstance that Çakır had the honour to take control over the Iberian semifinal between Spain and Portugal and furthermore accompanying Pedro Proenca in the final match as fourth official. In addition, one has to underline he was the first Turkish referee ever who managed that.
Without any doubt and with the benefit of hindsight, one can state that this referee is one of the best "accomplishments" since Collina is joining UEFA's referee committee and that he certainly counts to 2012's top3 in Europe. One of his key elements are his mental strength, phlegm and partly zero tolerance style.
One may raise doubts concerning the sense of appointing him for this tournament, anyway, there will be enough opportunities for other referees, who have not made their FIFA debut like Milorad Mazic or Jonas Eriksson, to still show their skills in one of the three major FIFA competitions in 2013 - probably, Çakır will attend one of them as well: the U-20 World Cup is going to take place in his mother country Turkey.
Related Item:
2012 FIFA Club World Cup - Match Officials
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