December 23 – FIFA has announced that it is abolishing age limits for international referees. The previous rule forced match officials to leave its international list before the turn of their 46th birthday.
All officials seeking to referee on past that age, from now on, will be subject to annual careful evaluations. A referees committee will carry out “technical assessments, medical examinations and fitness tests”.
This move mirrors national trends of recent year. The Scottish FA and English FA removed mandatory retirement age for match officials in 2012 and 2010 respectively.
Ironic that the English FA should do this when they have been so strong in their views about age and term limits within FIFA House where no physical fitness tests are mandatory.
But this could all be good news for 78 year-old FIFA president Sepp Blatter opening up national and international opportunities. Though he will soon be vanquished from the International Olympic Committee by virtue of his maturity, he may turn his hand to the whistle (providing he can surpass careful evaluation – though in the Premier League most managers would suggest it isn’t a difficult evaluation to pass) and practice his on-pitch commandeering.
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