Aussie Ref set for Third World Cup
Australian referee Tammy Ogston will create history later this year when she officiates in China at her third FIFA Women's World Cup.
The Brisbane resident will be the first Australian to officiate at three World Cups and will join only a handful of male or female referees to achieve this feat. The 37-year-old has previously attended the 1999 and 2003 editions of the tournament in the USA and most recently became the first Australian referee to control a FIFA World Stars match when China hosted the World XI last April which coincided with the draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Joining Ogston will be assistant referee's Sarah Ho of Sydney and Adelaide-based Airlie Keen with the latter set to make her second consecutive appearance at the world's premier female football tournament. Ho is set to be the first female to officiate in the Hyundai A-League after she was recently named on the panel of match officials for the 2007/08 season.
Australia will open their campaign at the 2007 FIFA Women-s World Cup against Ghana on September 12 in Hangzhou. The Matildas will then meet world number four ranked team Norway on September 15 in the same city, before the final group match against Canada on September 19 in Chengdu.
The 16-nation tournament will be held in the cities of Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Tianjin and Wuhan, September 10-30.
The Matildas, now ranked 15 in the world, qualified for the World Cup courtesy of finishing runners-up at last year-s AFC Women-s Asian Cup in Adelaide after losing the final on penalties against China.
Meanwhile, one of the Hyundai A-League's senior referees, Matthew Breeze, has been appointed to August's FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea. Breeze has officiated at a number of previous FIFA tournaments including the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany. The same two assistant referees from that tournament, Jim Ouliaris and Matthew Cream, will join Breeze in Korea.
It will be a busy period for the 35-year-old from Sydney who is currently at the AFC Asian Cup alongside reigning Hyundai A-League referee of the year Mark Shield.
Australia is the only nation to have two referees selected to officiate at Asia's premier football event.
Consistent performances from Australian match officials in AFC club and international competition have led to numerous appointments since Australia joined the AFC last year.