Victor Gomes Joins IFAB Technical Advisory Panel
Former South African referee Victor Gomes has been appointed to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) technical advisory panel.
Gomes, the only South African referee to officiate an African Cup of Nations final (2022), is the sixth member to join the board.
The IFAB comprises the four British football associations (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), each with one vote, and FIFA, representing the remaining 207 national associations, with four votes.
The Football Advisory Panel (FAP) and Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) include experienced football figures, such as former players and referees, who support The IFAB’s Technical Subcommittee in the decision-making process.
Changes to the Laws of the Game can only be implemented during the Annual General Meetings (AGM), where the General Assembly, consisting of key IFAB representatives, participates. These meetings are typically held in February or March, rotating among England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and in other locations designated by FIFA during World Cup years.
The TAP consists of leading refereeing experts from all confederations and members of The IFAB’s Technical Subcommittee (TSC). TAP members contribute their technical and refereeing expertise to discussions on footballing issues and the impact of potential Law changes.
Gomes joins a panel that includes Shamsul Maidin, a former Football Association of Singapore (FAS) referee, and Nicola Rizzoli, CONCACAF’s technical advisor on refereeing. Rizzoli officiated the 2014 FIFA World Cup final between Germany and Argentina and the 2013 Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
Other members include Enrique Cáceres, President of the CONMEBOL Referee’s Commission, Kevin Stoltenkamp, a former New Zealand referee, and Roberto Rosetti, a former Italian referee. Since 2018, Rosetti has served as UEFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer and Chairman of the Referees’ Committee.
Rosetti is widely regarded as one of the greatest referees of all time. He debuted in Serie A in 1998, officiated nearly 200 top-division matches, and was named “Serie A Referee of the Year” four consecutive times (2006-2009). Internationally, he was a FIFA referee from 2002 until his retirement in 2010, with a career highlight being his officiating of the UEFA EURO 2008 final between Germany and Spain.
Gomes, known for his no-nonsense approach in the PSL and across the continent, was named PSL Referee of the Season in 2012/13. He also officiated the 2018 Telkom Knockout final, where Baroka defeated Orlando Pirates on penalties.
Other notable matches officiated by Gomes include the 2016/17 MTN8 final (Bidvest Wits vs. Mamelodi Sundowns), the 2019/20 MTN8 final (SuperSport United vs. Highlands Park), the 2019/20 CAF Super Cup (Esperance vs. Zamalek), the 2020/21 CAF Confederation Cup final (Raja Casablanca vs. JS Kabylie), and the 2021/22 CAF Champions League final (Al Ahly vs. Wydad Casablanca).
His final international appearances were at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he officiated Spain’s 2-1 victory over Japan and France’s 4-1 win over Australia. He then retired and was appointed as the SAFA’s Chairperson of the National Referees Committee.
