FIFA reduces referees to officiate semi-finals, third place, finals

The FIFA Referees’ Committee (FRC) on Monday said it has reduced the number of match officials earlier slated for the final phase of the 2018 World Cup.


The phase, which include semi-finals, third-place and final stage matches, begin with the semi-finals on Tuesday in St. Petersburg.

Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of the committee, told reporters in Moscow, that 12 referees, 26 assistant referees and 10 Video Assistant Referees (VARs) have now been selected for the final phase.

“Given the fact that there are only four games left to play, the number of referees has been reduced again.

“Five referees and 11 assistant referees have been removed from the list we gave out after the second round.

“But the VARs, which are 10 in number, still remain as earlier selected for the final phase,’’ Collina said.

Recalls that the committee had last Wednesday selected 17 referees, 37 assistant referees and 10 Video Assistant Referees (VARs) for the final phase of the tournament.