Twenty-two Australian Match Officials have been selected on the FIFA Panel of International Referees for 2018.
For two Australian match officials 2018 marks their first selection on the elite international panel.
Hyundai A-League Assistant Referee Owen Goldrick joins FIFA’s Assistant Referee panel, while Jonathon Moore is now a member of the Men’s Futsal Referee panel.
FFA’s Director of Referees Ben Wilson praised Australia’s FIFA recognised referees, and explained that they are looked up by aspiring referees nationwide.
“Australia’s FIFA accredited match officials strive to be excellent every day,” said Wilson. “Their commitment, dedication and performances have been recognised and rewarded.”
“They are role models for referees around the country and I look forward to following their achievements on the international stage in 2018,” he said.
At just 26 Goldrick is the youngest Australian referee on FIFA’s panel. The Canberra-based official has been as Assistant Referee in the Hyundai A-League since 2012, and has officiated in many high-pressure matches including multiple Sydney Derbies as well as in the Hyundai A-League Finals Series.
“Initially I just started to referee to make some extra pocket money while I was still playing football, but as time went on I decided to give refereeing a serious go,” said Goldrick.
“(Former FIFA recognised referee) Ben Williams was actually one of my high school teachers, so he gave me an insight into what could be achieved if I went down that path.”
“Apart from joining the Hyundai A-League panel in 2012, running a line in a Hyundai A-League semi-final and being a fifth official in last season’s Grand Final, I would say that this is the biggest milestone in my career to date.
"Being recognised by FIFA has been a goal since I was 15, and it is a huge step and a big milestone in terms of progressing to serious football,” he said.
Moore started refereeing Futsal in 2004 in Adelaide where he grew up. In 2006 he moved to Sydney, and over the past decade he has been aspiring to reach the top level.
Over the next 12 months Moore will continue his Futsal education with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to be eligible to referee matches at the highest level across the continent.
From there his goal is the 2024 and 2028 versions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup, as well as helping rising Futsal referees hone their craft.
“Futsal is like football in that we have an AFC Asian Championship, as well as a FIFA World Cup, every four years,” Moore explained. “The 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup may be a bit out of my reach, but I will be looking to referee at 2024 and 2028.”
“A big role that senior Futsal referees play is mentoring up and coming referees. I know that I have benefitted from the advice of some of my refereeing peers and FIFA Futsal referees before me, so I will be looking to pass that knowledge down and share my experiences with others to help them to achieve their goals,” he said.
Australian Match Officials on the FIFA Panel of International Referees – 2018
Referees – Men: Christopher Beath, Shaun Evans, Jarred Gillett, Peter Green
Assistant Referees – Men: Ashley Beecham, Matthew Cream, Ryan Gallagher, Owen Goldrick, George Lakrindis, Nathan Macdonald, Anton Shchetinin, David Walsh
Referees – Women: Rebecca Durcau, Kate Jacewicz, Casey Reibelt
Assistant Referees – Women: Renae Coghill, Sarah Ho, Laura Moya
Referees – Men’s Futsal: Andrew Best, Jonathon Moore, Ryan Shepheard, Darius Turner
