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The FIFA U-17 World Cup in India is only days away and excitement levels are at their peak three weeks before the first ball is kicked. Preparations are in full-swing for the mega event, and stadiums are being handed over to FIFA as the tournament approaches its opening.
As with all FIFA events, the selection of referees is also an important part of the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup and the governing body of world football has finally picked the 21 squads of officials, a selection encompassing the globe with similar importance given to all the six confederations.
While the AFC, CAF, and CONCACAF will have three groups of referees participating in next month's mega event in India, UEFA will have the maximum participation with as many as seven teams of referees. South America's CONMEBOL has four groups of referees, while Oceania's OFC has the least number of referee representatives with only one group heading to India.
Among the European referees to officiate in India at the World Cup next month is Anthony Taylor, a name familiar to Premier League and Champions League fans in India. Taylor will be accompanied to India by Adam Nunn and Gary Beswick as his line officials and the trio are the only officials from the Premier League, representing England.
Taylor has officiated in big matches in Europe and comes to India with a reputation. He was the main referee during this year's FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea. He has also officiated the 2015 League Cup final and the 2015 Community Shield. With officials of the calibre of Taylor set for India, it is no surprise the coming FIFA U-17 World Cup has been dubbed as the biggest event in Indian football history.
Here is the list of all officials for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, starting 6th October:
African Zone
Mehdi Abid Charef, Algeria
Hamada Nampiandraza, Madagascar
Bamlak Tessema Weyesa, Ethiopia
Asian Zone
Muhammad Bin Jahari, Singapore
Ryuji Sato, Japan
Nawaf Shukralla, Bahrain
European Zone
Anthony Taylor, England
Ovidiu Hategan, Romania
Robert Madden, Scotland
Anastasios Sidiropoulos, Greece
Artus Soares Dias, Portugal
Clement Turpin, France
Slavko Vincic, Slovenia
North, Central American and Caribbean Zone
Jair Marrufo, USA
Ricardo Montero, Costa Rica
John Pitti, Panama
South American Zone
Jose Argote, Venezuela
Enrique Caceres, Paraguay
Sandro Ricci, Brazil
Gery Vargas, Bolivia
Oceanian Zone
Abdelkader Zitouni, Tahiti
Support referees
Gladys Lengwe, Zambia
Hyang Ok Ri, Korea DPR
Carol Anne Chenard, Canada
Claudia Umpierrez, Uruguay
Anna-Marie Keighley, New Zealand
Kateryna Monzul, Ukraine
Esther Saubli, Switzerland
