Football Australia has announced that two Victorian match officials are included within four Australians, selected as candidates from over 750 FIFA referees and assistant referees worldwide for the ‘Road to AUS/NZL’ project.
Leading Australian female referees Kate Jacewicz (VIC) and Casey Reibelt (QLD) and assistant referees Joanna Charaktis (VIC) and Sarah Ho (NSW) are among only 156 referees and assistant referees globally to have been selected as part of the candidate process to officiate at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023™.
Over the next three years, the quartet will be required to fulfil a range of criteria in order to remain in contention to be selected on FIFA’s final panel of match officials for the tournament to be held in mid-2023.
Jacewicz and Reibelt both refereed at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, while Ho has officiated at three FIFA Women’s World Cups™ in the past (2007, 2011, and 2015).
For Charaktis, 2023 could mark her first appearance at a FIFA Women’s World Cup™.
"I'm very excited and grateful to have been given this opportunity to potentially referee at a World Cup, not to mention one on home soil," Charaktis said.
"For now, we will continue to work hard on the matches we are appointed to in Australia, and stay fit and ready for any appointments that may come up."
Football Victoria Head of Referees, Luke Brennan applauded the announcement.
"We are thrilled to read the good news of Kate and Joanna being named by FIFA. For a long time they have been highly regarded referees and great role models for aspiring FV referees. Being Melbourne based, both Kate and Joanna have provided wonderful support and coaching for referees in our referee development pathway which really exemplifies the high calibre of people they are. They are both world class officials and we look forward to supporting them in the selection process as part of FIFA’s ‘Road to AUS/NZL’ project’."
Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson said it is fantastic that the four match officials will have the opportunity to press their claims to Australia in their profession on home soil, just like the Westfield Matildas.
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023™ will be a tournament of firsts, and while numerous match officials have represented Australia at FIFA Women’s World Cups in the past, Kate, Casey, Joanna, and Sarah have the opportunity to be the first to do so on home soil and in doing so lift the profile of Australian referees and match officials."