Three Guyanese Referees on 2021 FIFA International list

Sherwin Johnson, Maurees Skeete and Kleon Lindey have been re-selected to represent Guyana on the prestigious FIFA Refereeing International Lists, enabling the Guyanese trio to wear the FIFA badge and officiate at international matches in 2021.

The FIFA lists are updated each year with approved and qualified referees and assistant referees from all over the world, on the basis of nominations from national federations, which are reviewed by the FIFA Referees Committee, chaired by 2002 FIFA World Cup Final referee Pierluigi Collina.

“The GFF is extremely elated by the re-nomination of our three match officials to the 2021 FIFA list of referees,” said GFF Executive Committee member and Head of Refereeing – and former FIFA match official – Dion Inniss.

“Because of the pandemic, no opportunities were presented to them for officiating even at the local level, much less the international level. We know how distressing this was for them – they were not able to showcase their talent. We wish them the very best as soon as we are allowed to return to play in 2021, and we know that they will go out and represent Guyana proudly on the field.”

Referees Johnson and Skeete have been part of the FIFA list since 2012 and 2014 respectively, while assistant referee Lindey has featured in the selection since 2015. Guyana Defence Force Staff Sergeant Skeete has been nominated for Concacaf female referee of the year on two occasions.

“I’m very elated to have been re-nominated to the FIFA 2021 list,” Johnson said.

“With hard work and determination comes success but I feel as though this one was given to me too easy because little football was played due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I’m eagerly awaiting the return to play so that I can once again showcase my talent with the Golden Arrowhead flying high. I want to thank God for his continued protection and my family for their never-ending support.”