Canberra based Assistant Referee Lauren Hargrave is among 28 Australian Match Officials who have been appointed to FIFA’s Panel of International Referees for 2022.
Lauren is one of four match officials to be selected for the first time, now eligible to officiate FIFA sanctioned tournaments and fixtures.
“I am very excited to have been appointed to the FIFA Panel of International Referees in 2022,” Lauren told Capital Football.
“I consider that my appointment to the FIFA Panel is the result of a number of things, including: enjoying developing in my refereeing, being surrounded by an excellent support network and years of hard work and consistency.”
“I am excited to make the most of the next stage of my refereeing career, by being able to commence refereeing on the international stage. A FIFA badge opens up a range of opportunities for me to grow as a referee and I look forward to making the most of those opportunities in the company of an esteemed panel.”
(Image by: May Bailey | Beyond 90)
Lauren has been an AR based in Canberra for around three years, hoping to inspire young females to pick up the whistle.
“I moved to Canberra early in my A-League Women (formally W-League) refereeing career. For me, the promotion to the FIFA panel is largely due to the support from the current and past elite referees in Canberra”
“Canberra has a culture of developing excellent national and international referees, I look forward to seeing the next generation of young Canberra referees develop into national and international referees!”
Capital Football is holding a Female Referee Level 4 course on 5 February 2022. Sign up, here.
