Sobers, Hinds named on Fifa’s referees list for new ‘gender-neutral’ officiating era

Referees Crystal Sobers and Cecile Hinds were selected on Fifa’s list of international referees for 2021, as the governing body enters a new era of ‘gender-neutral’ officials—which means that there is no longer a women’s category and female officials can be deployed in men’s competitions.

Sobers and Hinds can therefore expect to be utilised for the Qatar 2022 Men’s World Cup qualifying competition, which kicks off in March, and possibly for the July 2021 Concacaf Men’s Gold Cup tournament.

Sobers, a former Bishop’s Anstey East High School and Arima Senior Comprehensive resident, finished second in a poll for Concacaf Women’s Referees of the Year in 2019.

Caleb Wales, Evelyn Carissa Douglas-Jacob and Ainsley Rochard were selected on Fifa’s list of assistant referees and are also eligible for international competition in 2021.

The officials were all nominated by the TTFA and were required to be at least 25 years old (23 years old in the case of assistant referees) on 1 January of the year for which they had been nominated.

Referees above the age of 45 can be obliged to undergo additional technical assessments as well as specific medical examinations and fitness testing on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of Fifa.

The Fifa referees committee is chaired by Italian Pierluigi Collina, who officiated in the 2002 World Cup final between Brazil and Germany.

Each candidate for an international spot is ranked based on marks from matches at national level during the 12 months prior to their nomination, and, at a minimum, must pass a Fifa-approved fitness test and medical examination—on or before 2 June 2020.

Fifa’s video match officials are not required to take fitness tests.

The match officials apart, Trinidad and Tobago has two persons serving on Fifa committees at present. Former TTFA president David John-Williams is on Fifa’s players’ status committee while former World Cup 2006 captain Dwight Yorke is on the development committee.

More from Wired868

Dear Editor: Are TTFA’s proposed Statute changes about electoral reform, or redistribution of political power?

“[…] Under the proposed TTFA Statutes amendments, clubs would lose 21 votes, reducing their combined allocation from 36 to 15—a Read more

Dear Editor: On what grounds is Romain still supervising minors? And what does that say about Safeguarding process?

“[…] Mr Gary St Rose himself acknowledges that the investigations are not complete. So what exactly formed the basis of Read more

St Rose: Safeguarding “comfortable” with Romain, despite National U-15 manager facing two unresolved complaints

Trinidad and Tobago Boys’ National Under-15 Team manager Adrian Romain has been cleared to continue his duties with the national Read more

Dear Editor: 19 months without a verdict on Cooper case is a Safeguarding travesty

“[…] The TTFA’s published Safeguarding Policy and Framework (version 3.0) says the TTFA ‘shall’ impose conditions on a licence whenever Read more

Dear Editor: TTFA Safeguarding Dept can use stakeholder concerns to strengthen its operations

“[…] The TTFA could work with clubs, academies, parents and relevant child-protection stakeholders to review its youth-team travel standards and Read more

Dear Editor: T&T’s football problems go well beyond the coach—start with accountability!

“[…] A new coach may bring fresh ideas, different tactics, and renewed motivation—but if the underlying problems remain, how much Read more

Editor