Victor Gomes Appointed to IFAB Technical Advisory Panel
Former South African referee Victor Gomes has been appointed to the technical advisory panel of the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
Gomes, celebrated as the first South African referee to oversee an African Cup of Nations final (2022), proudly takes on the role as the sixth member of the board.
The IFAB consists of four British football associations (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), each contributing one vote, along with FIFA, which represents an additional 207 national associations with four votes.
The Football Advisory Panel (FAP) and Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) comprise experienced football professionals, including former players and referees, who aid the Technical Subcommittee of IFAB by providing insights during the decision-making process.
Changes to the Laws of the Game can only be made during the Annual General Meetings (AGM), wherein the General Assembly, consisting of key representatives from IFAB, convenes. These AGMs typically occur in February or March, rotating among England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as at other sites designated by FIFA during World Cup years.
The TAP includes elite refereeing experts from all confederations, along with members from IFAB’s Technical Subcommittee (TSC). These TAP members offer their specialized technical and officiating perspectives during discussions on football matters and potential Law changes.
Joining Gomes on the esteemed panel are Shamsul Maidin, a former referee from the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), and Nicola Rizzoli, the technical advisor for refereeing in CONCACAF. Rizzoli gained fame for officiating the 2014 FIFA World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, as well as the 2013 Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
Other notable panel members include Enrique Cáceres, the President of the CONMEBOL Referee’s Commission, Kevin Stoltenkamp, a former referee from New Zealand, and Roberto Rosetti, a former Italian referee. Since 2018, Rosetti has served as UEFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer and Chairman of the Referees’ Committee.
Considered one of the greatest referees in history, Rosetti started in Serie A in 1998, officiating nearly 200 first-division matches and securing the title of “Serie A Referee of the Year” for four successive years (2006-2009). He was a FIFA referee from 2002 until his retirement in 2010, notable for officiating the UEFA EURO 2008 final between Germany and Spain.
Gomes, known for his no-nonsense style in the PSL and throughout the continent, was named the PSL Referee of the Season for 2012/13. He also officiated the 2018 Telkom Knockout final, where Baroka emerged victorious over Orlando Pirates in a penalty shootout.
Among other significant matches that Gomes has overseen are the 2016/17 MTN8 final (Bidvest Wits vs. Mamelodi Sundowns), the 2019/20 MTN8 final (SuperSport United vs. Highlands Park), the 2019/20 CAF Super Cup (Esperance vs. Zamalek), the 2020/21 CAF Confederation Cup final (Raja Casablanca vs. JS Kabylie), and the 2021/22 CAF Champions League final (Al Ahly vs. Wydad Casablanca).
His most recent international officiating experiences were at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he managed Spain’s 2-1 win over Japan and France’s 3-0 triumph against Australia. After his retirement, he was designated as the Chairperson of the National Referees Committee by SAFA.