By David Gold
September 18 – World Cup referee Mark Shield has been appointed by the Football Federation Australia (FFA) as its new director of referees, as it looks to overhaul refereeing in the country under its new Referee Development initiative.
The former A-League referee has considerable experience of officiating from the National Soccer League to the Asian Champions League and Asian Cup, as well as refereeing games in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, including the quarter-final of the latter between Brazil and France, as well as the semi-final when France defeated Portugal.
He refereed the Asian Champions League final between Al Karama of Syria and South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2006, and took charge of the Asian Cup final in 2007, when Iraq beat Saudi Arabia.
He is also a six-time Australian Referee of the Year award winner and was the first Australian to be given the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Referee of the Year award.
“Having been out of the game for three years, it was the right time for me to get back into the game,” Shield said.
“There is definitely an opportunity to build on our previous successes for what will be one of the most anticipated Hyundai A-League seasons since the inaugural one.
“I’m really excited about the challenge of working with the all referees, clubs, coaches and players to improve the profile of referees in Australia.”
Shield will have a number of responsibilities in his new role, including, ultimately, that of the performance of officials and their appointment to national competitions.
Head of the Australian Hyundai A-League Lyall Gorman said: “We are very proud to announce that a referee of the calibre of Mark Shield will head our new Referee Development structure.
“His knowledge and experience in relation to refereeing is unequalled in the Australian football community and is a fantastic role model for all aspiring referees.”
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