Referee Ben Williams and Assistant Referees Matthew Cream and Hakan Anaz will be heading to Brazil after being selected to attend this year’s FIFA World Cup.
Referee Ben Williams and Assistant Referees Matthew Cream and Hakan Anaz will be heading to Brazil after being selected as part of the contingent of 75 match officials to attend this year-s FIFA World Cup.
The appointment caps off a phenomenal period for Canberra-based Williams who last November was named the AFC-s 2013 Referee of the Year.
“It-s an absolute dream come true and 23 years in the making,” said Williams.
“Not many people get this opportunity and I am truly honoured and blessed to get the appointment to the panel.
“I am also really pleased to share the experience with Matthew and Hakan. We have been working on this as a group for two years and all the travel and hard work has paid off.
“A feat like this can-t be done without the support of family, friends and employers, so a big thank you to all of them for letting us chase our dream.
“The hard work starts again now and we will be focussing on representing Australia, the AFC and FIFA as best as we can,” concluded Williams.
This will be another highlight for South Australian Matthew Cream who has officiated at two FIFA Confederation Cups (2005 & 2009) as well as the 2012 London Olympic Games Football Tournament.
“Having been close to making a FIFA World Cup refereeing panel twice before, to finally get selected is a pretty surreal feeling,” said Cream.
“Just like any player, as an international referee you want to test yourself against the best in the world and you don-t get any better test than the FIFA World Cup.
“To be recognised as one of the top trios of match officials in the world with Ben and Hakan is fantastic,” said Cream.
Victorian Hakan Anaz will be looking forward to his first FIFA World Cup tournament having officiated at the AFC Asian Cup 2011 and 2012 London Olympic Games Football Tournament.
“I-m ecstatic and in a way relieved by the appointment. The past three months have been very tough as we have been working hard together for this common goal.
“Along the journey nothing is guaranteed. We thought we had performed well, but you never really know until it becomes official.
“We-ve been through a lot together to get where we are and I am really excited about going to the FIFA World Cup with these guys,” concluded Anaz.
FFA Director of Referees Ben Wilson, who was an Assistant Referee at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, was extremely proud that Ben, Matthew and Hakan have been recognised for their outstanding performances on the international stage.
“It is terrific that we have these Australian referees regarded as world class officials. It also demonstrates the career path available to all Australian referees.
“Ben, Matthew and Hakan are Australia-s most experienced match officials and I am certain they will represent Australian referees with distinction on the world stage.
“Ben and I started refereeing together in Canberra in the early 1990-s and I am so pleased that he has achieved the ultimate goal of a World Cup appointment.
“I have known Matthew and Hakan for the best part of 20 years and their dedication and commitment over this time has been rewarded,” concluded Wilson.
The only other Australians to have refereed at the FIFA World Cup are Tony Boskovic (1974 and 1982), Chris Bambridge (1986), Eddie Lennie (1998) and Mark Shield (2002 & 2006). Richard Lorenc (1990), Gordon Dunster and Eugene Brazzale (1994), Nathan Gibson and Ben Wilson (2006) have also officiated as assistant referees at the FIFA World Cup.
In addition to Ben, Matthew and Hakan-s appointment, New Zealand-based Hyundai A-League match officials Peter O-Leary (Referee) and Jan Hendrik Hintz (Assistant Referee) have also been appointed to the 2014 FIFA World Cup panel with Assistant Referee Mark Rule named as a member of the OFC support duo.
See the full list of appointments for the 2014 FIFA World Cup by clicking here.