Australian Referees in charge for AFC Champions League Final
A quartet of Australian Referees will today leave for Japan to officiate the 2009 Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) Asian Champions League final between Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) and Pohang Steelers (Korea Republic) on Saturday, 7 November.
Matthew Breeze (NSW) along with assistant referees Matthew Cream (SA), Ben Wilson (ACT) and Peter Green (QLD) will be the AFC match official representatives at the tournament.
This will be the second time in three seasons that an Australian has refereed the AFC Asian Champions League final following Mark Shields appointment in the 2007 final between Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) and Sepahan (Iran).
The appointment is another great achievement for Breeze who in February was named the Zurich Referee of the Year, as the top referee during the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season. “This appointment is a great honour,” said Breeze speaking briefly before boarding a flight to Japan.
“The Asian Champions League final is one of the most prestigious games in club football and for four Australians to be selected to take charge of this match speaks volumes on the standard Australian referees have reached.”
Breeze and assistant referee Matthew Cream have also been included in the short list for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.