Four female referees from Liberia have been approved by the world football governing body, FIFA, to officiate in international matches in 2024.
The four referees, including two central referees and two assistant referees, are part of 10 Liberian referees approved by FIFA for the 2024 international list.
The FIFA International Referees List is an annual publication of the global list of FIFA international referees controlled by FIFA. Members of the list are qualified to officiate at the international level and are entitled to wear a FIFA badge on their uniform for the year in which they are listed.
The four female referees listed for 2024 are Sylvina Garnett (2019), Love Wheyee (2024), Tracy Chyee (2021), and Hannah Moses (2021).
After a couple of years without a Liberian female referee on the international scene, the barrier was broken in 2019 with the approval of referee Sylvina. In 2021, after 10 years, Liberia had three international female referees, following the approval of Tracy and Hannah, who joined Sylvina.
The number has now increased to four following the addition of 25-year-old Love Wheyee.
Who is Love Wehyee?
She is considered one of Liberia’s most outstanding female referees and has taken charge of some high-profile matches, including the second leg between Liberia and Morocco’s U-20 Women’s National Teams’ international friendlies and the third-place playoff between Margibi and Grand Kru in the 2020/2021 National County Sports Meet.
She’s noted for being confident and is not afraid to show caution when there is a need.
Referee Wehyee started her referring career in Tappita, Nimba County, the second-largest county in Liberia, at age 17.
She was recruited by the Liberia Football Referees Association (LIFRA) in 2019 and completed her first course in 2019.
Based on her outstanding performances since she was recruited, Ref. Wehyee was one of five female referees who were promoted to Class “A” referees in January 2021. In 2022, she was nominated for the international list but missed out, something that broke her down, but she didn’t give up on her goal of becoming a FIFA badge referee.
List of 10 Approved Referees
Referees
- Hassan Corneh (M) 2017
- Sylvina W. Garnett (F) 2019
- Moses Forkpah (M) 2020
- Emmanuel Mensah (M) 2022
- Washington Dolo (M) 2024
- Love Whyee (F) 2024
Assistant Referees
- Joel W. Doe (M) 2019
- Ephraim W. Grant (M) 2022
- Hannah Moses (F) 2022
- Tracy Chayee (F) 2022
