Aussie Officials To Control 1st Leg Play-off
Four of Australia’s leading match officials headed by referee Mark Shield will join the Socceroos when the focus of the footballing world is on the intercontinental FIFA World Cup playoff matches on November 12.
At the same time that Australia tackles Uruguay in Montevideo, referee Mark Shield, assistant referees Ben Wilson and Nathan Gibson, as well as fourth official Matthew Breeze will control the Trinidad & Tobago v Bahrain 1st leg playoff in Port of Spain.
Both Shield and Breeze, who are on the ‘A- panel of referees in the Hyundai A-League, are amongst a total of 44 that have been short-listed for the final group of 30 referees that will officiate at the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006.
Brisbane-based Shield was Australia-s lone representative at the 2002 FIFA World Cup where he was the tournaments youngest referee He has also officiated at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship.
Breeze who hails from Sydney most recently appeared at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany where he controlled the third place playoff. He also did the same fixture as well as several other matches at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Gibson of Taree in NSW and Wilson from Canberra have had similar experience having officiated along with Shield as a trio at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Trinidad & Tobago having finished in fourth place in the CONCACAF region will host the fifth ranked Asian nation Bahrain before the return leg on November 16 with the winner qualifying for next year's FIFA World Cup.