By Frederic Sohounde
FIFA has published the list of 117 officials selected for the maiden Club World Cup.
Twelve of them will represent Africa at the tournament scheduled for June 14 to July 13 in the United States.
The selection confirms the rise of African refereeing on the global stage, according to CAF Online.
Five central referees have been appointed namely, Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria), Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya), Issa Sy (Senegal), Jean Jacques Ndala (DRC), and Dahane Beida (Mauritania).
Five African assistant referees have also been selected, including three from Senegal and Algeria: Nouha Bangoura, Djibril Camara, Mokrane Gourari, Stephen Yiembe (Kenya), and Abbes Akran Zerhouni.
Egypt and Morocco will be represented by Ashour Mahmoud and El Fariq Hamza respectively.
The inaugural edition will feature technological and regulatory innovations. According to FIFA, referees will wear “body cameras as part of a pilot phase.”
Additionally, a new rule stipulates that corner kicks will now be awarded if goalkeepers keep the ball in their hands for more than eight seconds, compared to an indirect free kick previously.
Four African clubs will take part in the competition, namely Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad Casablanca, and Esperance de Tunis.
The competition will bring together 32 clubs from around the world.
SS/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA