The 30 Referees of World Cup 2010

February 9th, 2010 | by: Daryl |

1165443_large For in-depth coverage of the men with the whistles in South Africa, visit the World Cup referees blog.

When FIFA announced it’s final list of 30 referees for World Cup 2010 in South Africa, the big story was the inclusion Martin Hansson, the Swedish ref who somehow missed Thierry Henry’s handball vs Ireland. Somehow.

There were 29 other referees on the list though, some of whom are very much aware that for 20 of the 22 men on the pitch, football is a feet only sport. Your full list of 30 World Cup 2010 referees is as follows:

Europe

Olegario Benquerenca, Portugal

Massimo Busacca, Switzerland

Frank De Bleekere, Belgium

Martin Hansson, Sweden

Viktor Kassai, Hungary

Stephane Lannoy, France

Roberto Rosetti, Italy

Wolfgang Stark, Germany

Alberto Undiano Mallenco

Howard Webb, England

South America

Carlos Amarilla, Paraguay*

Hector Baldassi, Argentina

Jorge Larrionda, Uruguay

Pablo Pozo, Chile

Oscar Ruiz, Colombia

Carlos Simon, Brazil

Asia

Khalil Al Ghamdi, Saudi Arabia

Ravshan Irmatov, Uzbekistan

Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh, Malaysia

Yuichi Nishimura, Japan

Africa

Mohamed Benouza, Algeria*

Koman Coulibaly, Mali

Jerome Damon, South Africa

Eddy Maillet, Seychelles

North, Central America and Caribbean

Joel Aguilar, El Salvador

Benito Archundia, Mexico

Carlos Batres, Guatemala

Marco Rodriguez, Mexico

Australia and South Pacific

Michael Hester, New Zealand

Peter O’Leary, New Zealand

Source: Yahoo!/AP

*Carlos Amarilla and Mohamed Benouza will not be refereeing as their assistants failed the pre-World Cup fitness test. Martin E. Vazquez Broqueta of Uruguay has been called up as a replacement.

It’s easy to laugh at refs or point out past high profile mistakes. But it’s also worth noting that these 30 men are considered by FIFA to be the best in the world. Even Martin Hansson. So we should recognize their achievement in being selected for World Cup 2010, and cross both fingers and toes that all goes well in South Africa.

Tags: Referees, World Cup 2010

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Andrew

This is absolutely ridiculous! Australia, whos two top referees Mark Shield and Tammy Ogsten who were awarded the "best referees in Asia" last november (source:http://www.ausport.gov.au/sportsofficialmag/profiles/tammy_ogston_and_mark_shield,_football_-_refs_hit_the_right_pitch) don't get given a position, whilst Martin Hansson who let a handball, that happened in front of 50,000 people, get away, and Coward Webb, who has made hundreds of mistakes. (sure everyone makes mistakes, but choosing webb is just injustice over the thousands of great refereesworldwide) I mean, why my god WHY??? choose Martin Hansson who has just been in one of most outrageous and debated scandals in the last 12 months, WHY CHOOSE HIM? What, they think that hes about due for a good call? This and the fact that Australia had the absolute worst calls in the 2006 FIFA World Cup (I know I'm from Australia, so I'm biased, BUT LOOK IT UP!!!!!! source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006 FIFA World Cup) But, no. not one Ausy ref. not one assistant ref. Refs of lower quality from Malaysia. (I've seen that ref, he is absolutely shocking) SERIOUSLY WTF FIFA WTF?????????
Manzbre

I will like to point out that the "I gotta think there’s more European refs with more big game experience" comment is really subjective. Look up both Mexican referees, not only has one of them refereed two FIFA World Club Cup Finals, but they a great vast of experience. Soccer is a very important sport in most of the countries in the world, and the U.S is not one of them, therefore in a way their referees suffer because they are overlooked for high profile game refereeing and don't gain experience.
Diane

Tetchy tetchy, most of those guys have missed equal or worse.

My memory of 2006 is thinking that if someone blew a whistle one more time I would strangle myself.
For Real

Check the list and couldn't find Overdo of Chelsea Vs Barce. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Dustin

"How FIFA can repeatedly select Coward Webb is beyond me."

Maybe because they know something you don't know....like everything about refereeing.

"Also worth noting: Zero refs from the USA."

Yeah that's really pathetic, the USSF should be working really hard to rectify that sort of BS.
sandrahn

How FIFA can repeatedly select Coward Webb is beyond me.
Luka

@ Tom - Breeze is terrible, and so are the rest!
Seth

Olegario Benquerenca...represent!
Tom

@dano

I doubt Oceania have sunk so low that they're swapping their votes for more referee spots.

As an Aussie, it stings a little bit that the Kiwis have two and we have none. But then Australia's leading referee, Matthew Breese, has had an absolutely shocking twelve months in the A-league, so its probably for the best.
Laurie

Also worth noting: Zero refs from the USA.

And MLS fans are grateful!