South African referee Victor Gomes has been selected to officiate at the 2022 FIFA World Cup slated from November 21 to December 18 in Qatar.
Gomes will be a centre referee in what will be another high profile outing for the official after the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was in-charge of the final.
The 39-year-old is the eighth South African official to be involved in any FIFA competition, and will be accompanied by assistant Referee Zakhele Siwela to Doha.
Gomes has served as a FIFA referee from 2011, and is well known for awarding penalty kicks in most of the matches he refereed during his career.
“I am extremely privileged to represent our country, my family and the Association (SAFA) at the biggest sporting event in the world. I am looking forward to going out there and give it our best, myself and my team,” Gome said.
“We will be raising the South African flag high and we want to make our country proud.”
The arbitrator has vast experience on the continental stage having also refereed at the 2015 and 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Gomes has officiated a flurry of matches in Africa’s Club competition including the finals of the 2018 Confederations Cup match between Vita Club and Raja Casablanca.
He will be among six African centre referees 10 assistant referees as well as two Video Assistant referees in Qatar.
List of selected African match officials
Referees: Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda), Janny Sikazwe (Zambia), Bakary Gassama (Gambia), Victor Gomez (South Africa), Maguette Ndiaye (Senegal) and Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Assistant referees: Zakhele Siwela (South Africa), Samba El Hadji (Senegal), Elvis Noupue (Cameroon), Arsenio Marengule (Mozambique), Gourari Mokrane (Algeria), Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria), Jerson Dos Santos (Angola), Djibril Camara (Senegal), Souru Phatsoane (Lesotho) and Mahmoud Abouelregal (Egypt)
Video referees: Redouane Jiyed (Morocco) and Adil Zourak (Morocco)
