At Referee Abroad, we believe that learning from the best is key for young referees looking to develop their skills. One of the things that makes our summer tournaments special is the group of top-level observers—many with FIFA and UEFA experience—who come to watch, support, and give feedback to referees from all over the world.
Thanks to strong partnerships with numerous Football Associations, we’ve been able to welcome outstanding observers who have made a big difference for our referees this summer.
Estoril: A Real Hub for Referee Development
This summer at IberCup Estoril, some well-known names with extensive FIFA and UEFA backgrounds joined us. Maurizio Mariani, a Serie A referee active in UEFA competitions, was there offering practical advice. Renato Faverani, who was an assistant referee at a FIFA World Cup final, also shared his valuable experience.
Leif Lindberg also stood out—he’s the only assistant referee in history to have officiated both a FIFA World Cup Final and a UEFA European Championship Final, making him a remarkable mentor for referees at the tournament.
Along with them were experienced UEFA referees and instructors such as Adrian Casha, Gediminas Mazeika, and Zdravko Jokic. Roger East, a former Premier League referee and coach, was present, as was Bogdan Velicu from Romania. We also welcomed ex-professional referees from different continents: Geert Meesschaert from Belgium, Masahiro Katagiri from Japan, and Emre Kosif from Turkey.
The English FA sent key figures like Keith Stroud, Cheryl Foster, and Sophie Dennington, who contributed their coaching skills to support referees at Estoril. Their presence shows how our close cooperation with various FAs helps bring top-level expertise to our tournaments.
Paris and Gothenburg: More Great Observers
At the Paris World Games tournament, referees benefited from the guidance of Daniele Chiffi, a current FIFA referee in Serie A, and George Byrne, a select group 2 assistant referee from England. Oleksandr Kalonov, a Premier League referee from Ukraine, also helped referees with his detailed evaluations.
The Gothia Cup brought together observers from several countries, including Vice President of the Referee Committee Marcel Savaniu of Romania, FIFA referee Joakim Östling and other professional referees from Sweden such as Fredrik Oppong, Granit Maqedonci andMehmet Culum as well as returning observer Leif Lindberg. Ermanno Feliciani, a young Italian Serie A referee with growing international experience, joined the team and enjoyed helping referees improve in this diverse environment.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
In earlier tournaments like IberCup Cascais at Easter, referees gained from the expertise of Cesar Muñiz Fernandez, a former La Liga referee with UEFA credentials, and Gavin Muge from the English FA, among others.
Referee Abroad’s President, Daniele Curcio, puts it simply:
“Having such a great group of observers every year is a huge honour. Their FIFA and UEFA experience, combined with their passion, truly makes a difference for the young referees. That’s what Referee Abroad is all about—helping referees grow and enjoy their journey.”
Why Observers Matter
Observers with real FIFA and UEFA experience bring practical, honest feedback based on years of officiating at the highest level. This kind of guidance helps referees develop their skills and confidence faster.
Plus, having observers from different countries and football cultures encourages referees to adapt and see the game from new perspectives.
Referee Abroad is always looking to welcome more experienced referees and instructors to our Elite tournaments. If you’re a referee, coach, or part of a federation interested in joining us, we’d love to hear from you.
Together, we can help more referees explore their refereeing world and reach their potential.