Eight recipients honoured with AFC Referees Memento Award

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Eight recipients honoured with AFC Referees Memento Award

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) presented eight referees and assistant referees the AFC Referees Memento Award in conjunction with the AFC Referee Instructors & Assessors Seminars on Thursday.

The award is given to match officials who have served at least five years on the AFC Elite Panel and officiated more than 30 matches.

AFC Director of Referees Shamsul Maidin, who closed the seminar on behalf of AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John, said: “I am pleased to note that we will today honour our AFC match officials who have decided to retire. We thank you for the service that you have given the AFC and football in Asia. I hope that you will continue to be a part of the AFC family and pass on your experience to our aspiring match officials.”

The four referees and three assistant referees received their recognition plaques from General Farouk Bouzo, Advisor to the AFC Referees Committee.

Among them were Vietnam referee Vo Minh Tri, who has been a FIFA referee between (2001-2018) and AFC elite referee (2007-2017). 

Vo, who has never failed a fitness test said: "I have put in a lot of hard work and dedication and I'm very grateful for this award, I could not have done it without the support from the AFC and the Referees Department. 

"I also owe my gratitude to my mentors, Shamsul Maidin, Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh and the late Mohd Nazri Abdullah."

Australia's Allyson Clare Flynn, who has been involved in 47 matches as assistant referee said: "I'm very honored and privileged to represent Australia and AFC on the world stage and follow my passion, to referee at the heart - that was the greatest experience. 

"I would like to thank AFC for the opportunities that they gave me and to be the first women on an Asian Champions League match is something I will never forget. I hope to give back to the football community when the opportunity arises."

Uzbekistan assistant referee Mamur Saidkasimov could not attend the ceremony due to his new role as Referees Division Director for the Uzbekistan Football Federation.