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Shield given historic appointment
Australian and Oceanian officials have excelled in recent times, none more so than Brisbane based Mark Shield. The NSL Referee of the Year in 2004 has become the first Oceania referee appointed to a European World Cup qualifier.
The only OFC representative to carry the whistle at the 2002 world cup has been placed in charge of the group 4 match between Israel and Switzerland in Tel Aviv (Saturday October 9, 2004) followed by the group six encounter between Northern Ireland and Austria in Belfast (Wednesday October 13, 2004).
Shield has had a steller two years since making his world cup debut as the tournaments youngest referee, taking the whistle in the 2003 Confederations Cup and this years Asian Cup in China.
"I am very excited at the prospect of refereeing two European World Cup qualifiers and it is a realisation of another goal and dream," Shield said at the prospect. "Once again I feel privileged to fly the Australian and Oceania flag in some high profile soccer playing nations." (www.australiansoccer.com.au)
Shield's appointment coincided with the appointment of Sydney based futsal referee Robert Porritt as the OFC's only official at the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship, to be held in Chinese Taipei later this year.
Australian officials have flourished in recent times with our women appearing at the elite stage. Krystyna Szokolai was appointed to the Athens Olympics as a referee along side assistants Jacqueline Leleu and Airlie Keen. Keen and Leleu also worked along-side another Brisbane based official, Tammy Ogston, in last years 2003 Womens World Cup in 2003.
The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championships in the U.A.E. didn't escape the Aussie offical invasion either as referee Matthew Breeze and assistant referees Nathan Gibson and Matthew Cream holding the flag high.
National director of referees, Barry Such, showed his pride in Shield's and Porritt's appointments.
"Australian match officials are constantly being recognised by soccer's world governing body FIFA for their excellence through their ongoing appointments for various world championships." (www.australiansoccer.com.au)
On a personal note, being a Brisbane boy myself and a football referee, it's extremely pleasing to see Mark Shield to be placed in such high regard. Tammy Ogston too is showing the talents that Brisbane referees possess and I hope that one day a FIFA site will boast my name as an official at international level.
13 September, 2004 |
