No English Referee Will Officiate In 2018 Russia
World Cup – FIFA
No English referee or assistant would officiate in this
year’s World Cup starting in June in different Russian
cities.
The decision was reached by the World football
governing body, FIFA, on Thursday, March 9, 2018.
FIFA’s decision came amid the ongoing tension between
Britain and Russia.
Britain had accused Russia of poisoning ex-Russian spy,
Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England.
The British Government followed the accusation up with
the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats.
Britain’s foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, later
announced the country’s decision that no British
dignitaries or member of the royal family will attend the
competition, to be held June 14-July 15.
This is the first time after the Second World War that a
World Cup would be staged without an English ref.
on its front Cover
FIFA confirmed its official list of 99 match officials on
Thursday.
The referees representing UEFA-affiliated countries in the
World Cup are from Germany, Turkey, Russia, the
Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Serbia, Italy, Slovenia and France.
Also, no English assistant will officiate at the competition