NSW Futsal referees get OFC Championship call up

NSW based FIFA Futsal Referees Ryan Shepheard and Darius Turner have been appointed to officiate at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Futsal Championships to be held in Auckland, New Zealand, from July 23-27.

Manly’s Shepheard and Willoughby based Turner will officiate as guest referees of the Asian Football Confederation  

NSWFRA President Greg Webster congratulated both match officials on their appointment.

“The appointment of two of our three NSW based FIFA Futsal Referees to this tournament is excellent news and it will provide the NSWFRA with yet more valuable experience from international level when they return,” Webster said.

 “Both of these referees, along with a number of other our top match officials have been refereeing in this year’s Hummel F-League, the highest level of futsal in Australia.

“Through the NSWFRA, futsal referees in NSW now have a true pathway from local competition, to the Premier and State Futsal Leagues and then national competitions.”

Webster hopes the success of local match officials will encourages others to give refereeing a go.

“To address the recent growth of futsal in NSW and the need for match officials, the NSWFRA will be running courses in the coming months for those who wish to qualify as futsal referees, “he said. 

“This will include a specific course for female candidates to address the need for more female match officials in NSW,” Mr. Webster said.

To register interest in attending a futsal refereeing course, please visit www.nswfra.com.au and enter your details in the ‘Join Us’ section of the website.