29 elite Australian Officials recognised by FIFA for 2023

Football Australia is pleased to advise that 29 Australian Match Officials have been appointed to FIFA's Panel of International Referees for 2023.

Australian football is again strongly represented at the global level, with a record number of local officials appointed to international lists ahead of a busy calendar of global football.

2023 sees Kurt Ams, Lara Lee, and Kearney Robinson added to the Video Match Official list for the first time.

Also in 2023, Alireza Faghani will join the Australian international match officials list for the first time. Faghani is no stranger to international football, being previously listed under IR Iran on the FIFA international list since 2008.

Not only did the Subway Socceroos represent Australian football with great distinction at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, five Australian-based officials - who have been named on FIFA's Panel of International Referees for 2023 - were also flying the flag in Doha, with Chris Beath, Ashley Beecham, Shaun Evans, Faghani, and Anton Shchetinin selected as match officials for the tournament.

FIFA recently confirmed that Australia has four match officials selected for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™; Chris Beath, Joanna Charaktis, Kate Jacewicz, and Casey Reibelt.

Another on the 2023 list is Futsal Referee, Ryan Shepheard, who continues to be acknowledged globally for his outstanding work, including his appointment as the Referee for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2022™ Final between IR Iran and Japan in Kuwait last October.

Football Australia Head of Referees Nathan Magill said: "Australian Match Officials continue to be highly regarding within the global football ecosystem which is reflected in our match officials continued selection for international football.

"Following the success for our match officials in 2022 and ahead of the first ever FIFA Women's World Cup to be hosted by Australia, Football Australia is excited to see what opportunities are provided to our international match officials over the next 12-months.

"The selection of a record number of Australian-based match officials again demonstrates the exciting pathway available through refereeing football in Australia," concluded Magill.

Australian Match Officials on the FIFA Panel of International Referees 2023