Referees named ahead of FIFA Club World Cup

Six match officials have been nominated to oversee the tournament which kicks off in Morocco on 1 February.

LINDSEY PARNABY

Irish native who switched from the music industry to the world of sport moving from Universal Music to AS in 2017. A keen runner, soccer player and now discovering the world's fastest growing sport of padel. A fútbol fanatic covering LaLiga, MLS, Liga MX and other offbeat stories from the global game. Can always be found rooting for the underdog.

Update: Jan 21st, 2023 16:51 EST

FIFA have confirmed the names of the six lead referees who will be responsible for overseeing the action at the Club World Cup which kicks off in Morocco on 1 February.

Two UEFA match officials have been called up along one a piece from CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and the AFC confederations. 12 assistant referees and eight VAR officials have also been named to take charge of the games that will be hosted in Tangiers and Rabat.

Referees named ahead of FIFA Club World Cup — The FIFA Club World Cup Trophy Angel Martinez - FIFA

FIFA Club World Cup referees

AFC: Ning Ma (China)
CAF: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
CONCACAF: Ivan Barton (El Salvador)
CONMEBOL: Andres Matonte Cabrera (Uruguay)
UEFA: Anthony Taylor (England)
UEFA: Istvan Kovacs (Rumania)

Referees will explain to crowds and TV audiences the reasoning behind VAR decisions during a 12-month trial across FIFA tournaments, starting with February’s Club World Cup.

The Morocco-hosted event will see officials communicate their decisions to audiences for the first time in football.

While conversations with the VAR officials will not be heard by the public, referees are to be provided with a microphone that links them to the in-stadium public address system and broadcasters.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the sport’s lawmakers, announced the trial on Wednesday following recommendations made by its advisory panels in October.

All eyes on Morocco

Pumas in a race against time to replace Dani Alves

SOCCER

Real Betis ready to sell Lainez as Braga prepare to end loan

The tournament will take place from 1 to 11 February and will feature seven sides with the respective winners from each confederations top competition with Champions League winners Real Madrid and Flamengo (Copa Libertadores winners) firm favourites.

The other five participating sides are: Auckland City (Oceania), Al Hilal (AFC) Seattle Sounders (CONCACAF), Wydad Casablanca (CAF) and Egypt’s Al Ahly as guests given that Wydad are the ‘host nation’ and also CAF Champions League winners.

Club World Cup: participating teams

Real Madrid (Spain)
Flamengo (Brazil)
Auckland City (New Zealand)
Seattle Sounders (United States)
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Al Ahly (Egypt)