Who will be the World Cup 2018 referees?

We all know what a difference one referee can make compared to another, and naturally, a lot of us might be growing curious as to who will be the World Cup referees this 2018. FIFA has published the list of 36 referees for the FIFA World Cup 2018 only last month, on March 29th 2018. These referees come from the six football confederations and will be assisted by a total of 63 assistant referees. As part of our World Cup 2018 Guide, CasinoHawks has prepared the full list of World Cup 2018 referees for your convenience.

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List of World Cup 2018 referees by Confederation

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

• Fahad Al-Mirasi (Saudi Arabia)
• Alireza Faghani (Iran)
• Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
• Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (UAE)
• Ryuji Sato (Japan)
• Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)

Confederation of African Football (CAF)

• Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)
• Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)
• Gehad Grisha (Egypt)
• Janny Sikazwe (Zambia)
• Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)

Confederation, of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF)

• Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)
• Mark Geiger (United States)
• Jair Marrufo (United States)
• Ricardo Montero (Costa Rica)
• John Pitti (Panama)
• Cesar Arturo Ramos (Mexico)

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL)

• Julio Bascuñán  (Chile)
• Enrique Caceres (Paraguay)
• Andrés Cunha (Uruguay)
• Néstor Pitana (Argentina)
• Sandro Ricci (Brazil)
• Wilmar Roldán (Colombia)

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)

• Matthew Conger (New Zealand)
• Norbert Hauata (Tahiti)

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

• Felix Brych (Germany)
• Cüneyt Çakır (Turkey)
• Sergei Kuipers (The Netherlands)
• Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
• Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)
• Milorad Mažić (Serbia)
• Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
• Damir Skomina (Slovenia)
• Clément Turpin (France)

According to FIFA, officials were selected "based on each referee’s skills and personality, as well as his level of understanding of football and ability to read both the game and the various tactics employed by teams."

A two-week seminar shall be held this April in Italy, at the technical centre of the Italian football association (FIGC), at the conclusion of which FIFA shall announce the names of those who will act as video assistant referees (VARs).

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Which referees will officiate each game?

Preparations for this year's FIFA World Cup are still ongoing, and therefore match officials haven't been appointed for each individual game yet. A final FIFA referee seminar is scheduled to take place on the 4th of June, 10 days before the opening game between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Most probably the most experienced referees will take charge of the most important matches, such as the knock-out stages and the final.

No British referees this World Cup

As you might have already concluded, unfortunately for the first time in 80 years, no British referee has been selected for this year's World Cup. The same applies with regard to Assistant Referees. 

Mark Clattenburg was the only British referee on FIFA's long list of officials in 2016, but Clattenburg left his job with the Premier League last season o move to Saudi Arabai. The FA's request to replace him was rejected by FIFA.

How much are World Cup referees paid?

According to Brazilian outlet UOL, the most qualified referees such as Felix Brych (Germany) and Nestor Pitana (Argentina) will be paid €57,000 (close to £50,000) for refereeing during the big games, with an additional €2,500 (£3,000) for each game they officiate.

Assistant referees will be paid €20,000 plus an extra €1,600 per game.

Keep yourself updated about the World Cup 2018 with CasinoHawks

Like any other event, there are bound to be a couple of surprises when it comes to the World Cup this year. Get updates on what's happening by stopping by at CasinoHawks from time to time and consulting our World Cup Guide, or consult our full World Cup Schedule so you can plan your leave ahead. Our team aims to keep you informed about the latest news and developments, so if you do decide to bet on the World Cup, you will be able to make more informed decisions to help you win . 

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