CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2015 – Group Stage (Matches 1-8)

17 January 2015
Equatorial Guinea – Congo
Referee: Bakary Gassama (GAM, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Evarist Menkouande (CMR)
Assistant Referee 2: Marwa Range (KEN)
Fourth Official: Hamada Nampiandraza (MAD)
Referee Observer: Essam Abd El Fatah (EGY)

Burkina Faso – Gabon
Referee: Rajindraparsad Seechurn (MRI)
Assistant Referee 1: Angesom Ogbamariam (ERI)
Assistant Referee 2: Zakhele Siwela (RSA)
Fourth Official: Mohamed Kordi (TUN) 
Referee Observer: Lim Kee Chong (MRI)

18 January 2015
Zambia – DR Congo
Referee: Ghead Grisha (EGY)
Assistant Referee 1: Waleed Ahmed (SDN)
Assistant Referee 2: Abo El Sadat (EGY)
Fourth Official: Juste Ephrem Zio (BFA)

Tunisia – Cape Verde
Referee: Eric Otogo-Castane (GAB)
Assistant Referee 1: Aboubacar Doumbouya (GUI)
Assistant Referee 2: Theogene Ndagijimana (RWA)
Fourth Official: Ali Lemghaifry (MRT)

19 January 2015
Ghana – Senegal
Referee: Bernard Camille (SEY)
Assistant Referee 1: Peter Edibi (NGA)
Assistant Referee 2: Hassan Egueh (DJI)
Fourth Official: Bamlak Tessema (ETH)

Algeria – South Africa
Referee: Noumandiez Doue (CIV)
Assistant Referee 1: Songuifolo Yeo (CIV)
Assistant Referee 2: Jean Birumushahu (BDI)
Fourth Official: Mario Bangoura (GUI)

20 January 2015
Côte d'Ivoire – Guinea
Referee: Mehdi Abid Charef (ALG)
Assistant Referee 1: Abdelhak Etchiali (ALG)
Assistant Referee 2: Yahaya Mahamdou (NIG)
Fourth Official: Joaquin Esono Eyang (EQG)

Mali – Cameroon
Referee: Janny Sikazwe (ZAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Jerson Dos Santos (ANG)
Assistant Referee 2: Oamogetse Godisamang (BOT)
Fourth Official: Juste Ephrem Zio (BFA)

Proenca - Portuguese Referee of the Century

Pedro Proenca has been chosen as the Referee of the Century by the Portuguese Football Federation, which celebrated its centenary in 2014. He received the award at the Casino Estoril from Pierluigi Collina, the UEFA Head of Refereeing. "It's obviously an honor to receive the award, but I cannot forget Antonio Garrido and Vitor Pereira. It is a generation that had to deal with many things and this award is dedicated to all referees. This award is also dedicated to Collina, in appreciation of his very important contributions to refereeing", said Proenca (photo). He represented Portugal at the FIFA World Cup 2014 and FIFA Confederations Cup 2013, both in Brazil, and refereed the Euro 2012 final, as well as the UEFA Champions League 2012 final. The other candidates for the “Portuguese Referee of the Century” were Antonio Garrido (World Cups 1978 and 1982, Euro 1980, European Cup final 1980, European Super Cup 1977) and Vitor Melo Pereira (World Cups 1998 and 2002, Euro 2000, UEFA Cup final 2002).

Pierluigi Collina, who is responsible for UEFA refereeing, ranked Pedro Proenca "as one of the best European referees" and expressed the wish that the Portuguese will continue his refereeing career. The former top referee, who was speaking at the "Football Talks" event at the Estoril Congress Centre, addressed the recent claims regarding Proenca’s retirement plans if he would have refereed the FIFA Club World Cup final, which turned out to be otherwise. "It's a personal decision. Pedro Proenca is one of the best referees of UEFA. In 2012, he directed the final of the Champions League and UEFA European Championship. I would love to have him continue with us, because I believe he is very important to refereeing. However, we will all have to respect the decision he might take", said Collina. He revealed that he has already spoken to Proenca about this situation: "Last summer I tried to convince him to continue his career". On the other hand, the responsible for European refereeing believes that after Proenca’s possible end of the career, the Portuguese will continue to be an important asset for UEFA, helping to train young referees. "UEFA is always receptive to use former top referees to help form new generations of referees. We have already created a group of referee coaches, composed of recently retired referees. Our intention is to keep these referees, with great teaching potential, to pass the knowledge to the younger referees", concluded Collina.

Source: Mais Futebol / DNoticias

AFC Asian Cup 2015 – Group Stage (Matches 13-18)

15 January 2015
Bahrain – UAE
Referee: Christopher Beath (AUS, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Jakhongir Saidov (UZB)
Assistant Referee 2: Chun Kit Chow (HKG)
Fourth Official: Yudai Yamamoto (JPN)
Reserve AR: Najah Alhamaidah (IRQ)
Referee Observer: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (MAS)

Qatar – Iran
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (UZB)
Assistant Referee 1: Abduxamidullo Rasulov (UZB)
Assistant Referee 2: Bakhadyr Kochkarov (KGZ)
Fourth Official: Mohd Bin Yaacob (MAS)
Reserve AR: Jeffrey Goh (SIN)
Referee Observer: Cheung Yim Yau (HKG)

16 January 2015
Palestina – Jordan
Referee: Kim Jong-Hyeok (KOR
Assistant Referee 1: Jeong Hae-Sang (KOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Yoon Kwang-Yeol (KOR)
Fourth Official: Ammar Aljneibi (UAE)
Reserve AR: Yusri Muhamad (MAS)
Referee Observer: Hany Taleb Safar (QAT)

Iraq – Japan
Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRN)
Assistant Referee 1: Reza Sokhandan (IRN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohammadreza Abolfazli (IRN)
Fourth Official: Hettikankanange Perera (SRI)
Reserve AR: Palitha Hemathunga (SRI)
Referee Observer: Farkhad Abdullaev (UZB)

17 January 2015
Australia – Korea
Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (BHR)
Assistant Referee 1: Yaser Tulefat (BHR)
Assistant Referee 2: Ebrahim Saleh (BHR)
Fourth Official: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN)
Reserve AR: Jeffrey Goh (SIN)
Referee Observer: Farkhad Abdullaev (UZB)

Oman – Kuwait
Referee: Fahad Al-Mirdasi (KSA)
Assistant Referee 1: Badr Al-Shumrani (KSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Abdulla Al-Shalwai (KSA)
Fourth Official: Yudai Yamamoto (JPN)
Reserve AR: Azman Ismail (MAS)
Referee Observer: John Chia Eng (SIN)

CONMEBOL U-20 Championship 2015

Uruguay, 14 January – 7 February 2015

Referees
1. Mauro Vigliano (ARG, 1975)
2. Alejandro Mancilla (BOL, 1979)
3. Ricardo Marques (BRA, 1979, photo)
4. Julio Bascunan (CHI, 1978)
5. Adrian Velez (COL, 1976)
6. Roddy Zambrano (ECU, 1978)
7. Enrique Caceres (PAR, 1974)
8. Diego Haro (PER, 1982)
9. Andres Cunha (URU, 1976)
10. Jose Argote (VEN, 1980)

Assistant Referees
1. Ezquiel Brailovsky (ARG, 1979)
2. Wilson Arellano (BOL, 1980)
3. Kleber Gil (BRA, 1977)
4. Marcelo Barraza (CHI, 1974)
5. Wilmar Navarro (COL, 1979)
6. Luis Vera (ECU, 1980)
7. Milciades Saldivar (PAR, 1981)
8. Raul Lopez (PER, 1977)
9. Nicolas Taran (URU, 1980)
10. Jairo Romero (VEN, 1982)

Referee Observers
1. Carlos Alarcon (PAR)
2. Ernesto Filippi (URU)
3. Abel Gnecco (ARG)
4. Wilson Seneme (BRA)

AFC Asian Cup 2015 – Group Stage (Matches 9-12)

13 January 2015
Kuwait – Korea
Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRN, photo)
Assistant Referee 1: Reza Sokhandan (IRN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mohammadreza Abolfazli (IRN)
Fourth Official: Yudai Yamamoto (JPN)
Reserve AR: Najah Alhamaidah (IRQ)
Referee Observer: Farkhad Abdullaev (UZB)

Oman – Australia
Referee: Ryuji Sato (JPN)
Assistant Referee 1: Toru Sagara (JPN)
Assistant Referee 2: Toshiyuki Nagi (JPN)
Fourth Official: Muhammad Bin Jahari (SIN)
Reserve AR: Jeffrey Goh (SIN)
Referee Observer: Hany Taleb Safar (QAT)

14 January 2015
Korea DPR – Saudi Arabia
Referee: Abdullah Al Hilali (OMA)
Assistant Referee 1: Hamed Al Mayahi (OMA)
Assistant Referee 2: Abu Al Amri (OMA)
Fourth Official: Ammar Aljneibi (UAE)
Reserve AR: Akane Yagi (JPN)
Referee Observer: John Chia Eng (SIN)

China – Uzbekistan
Referee: Abdulla Mohamed (UAE)
Assistant Referee 1: Mohamed Al-Hammadi (UAE)
Assistant Referee 2: Hasan Al-Mahri (UAE)
Fourth Official: Hettikankanange Perera (SRI)
Reserve AR: Palitha Hemathunga (SRI)
Referee Observer: Edward Lennie (AUS)

CAF Referee of the Year 2014: Gassama (GAM)

Gambian Bakary Gassama has been adjudged the best referee for the year 2014. The Gambian referee clinched the top prize at the expense of Cameroonian Neant Alioum and Ivory Coast’s Noumadiez Doue and was honoured at the CAF Awards Gala held in Lagos, Nigeria.

Gassama (photo) was unarguably one of the foremost African referees during the year under review. The Gambian was one of three Africans selected for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, officiating the Netherlands – Chile clash in the group phase. Gassama has officiated at his second African Champions League final last year when he took charge of the decider between eventual winners Entente Setif from Algeria and Vita Club of DR Congo. He also officiated the 2013 decider between Al Ahly from Egypt and Orlando Pirates from South Africa. He refereed in the semifinals of the CAF Confederation Cup earlier last month and also made history when he officiated two games in the Qatari domestic football league last month and became the first non-Asian referee to do so. He also officiated at the 2013 Club World Cup in Morocco, as well as games in the qualifiers for the Orange Africa Cup of Nations Equatorial Guinea 2015.

Source: AllAfrica

AFC Asian Cup 2015 – Group Stage (Matches 5-8)

11 January 2015
UAE – Qatar
Referee: Kim Jong-Hyeok (KOR
Assistant Referee 1: Jeong Hae-Sang (KOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Yoon Kwang-Yeol (KOR)
Fourth Official: Yudai Yamamoto (JPN)
Reserve AR: Najah Alhamaidah (IRQ)
Referee Observer: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (MAS)

Iran – Bahrain
Referee: Benjamin Williams (AUS)
Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Cream (AUS)
Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cetrangolo (AUS)
Fourth Official: Christopher Beath (AUS)
Reserve AR: Akane Yagi (JPN)
Referee Observer: John Chia Eng (SIN)

12 January 2015
Japan – Palestine
Referee: Abdulrahman Hussain (QAT)
Assistant Referee 1: Taleb Al-Marri (QAT)
Assistant Referee 2: Ramzan Al-Naemi (QAT)
Fourth Official: Mohd Bin Yacoob (MAS)
Reserve AR: Yusri Muhamad (MAS)
Referee Observer: Noboru Ishiyama (JPN)

Jordan – Iraq
Referee: Fahad Al-Mirdasi (KSA)
Assistant Referee 1: Badr Al-Shumrani (KSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Abdulla Al-Shalwai (KSA)
Fourth Official: Hettikamkanamge Perera (SRI)
Reserve AR: Palitha Hemathunga (SRI)
Referee Observer: Edward Lennie (AUS)