PRO officials appointed to FIFA panel – 2016

Image: PRO officials Richard Gamache (L) and Ismail Elfath (R)

PRO’s Ismail Elfath and Ted Unkel are the two new North American referees to be added to the FIFA panel for 2016.

The pair both enjoyed a successful 2015, with Elfath assigned to the MLS All-Star game against Tottenham Hotspur, and Unkel blowing the whistle in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final between Philadelphia Union and Sporting Kansas City.

Read more: Family, full-time, FIFA – Ted Unkel reflects on a busy few months

Elfath joins the list after being involved in 97 MLS games since making his professional debut in 2009, while Unkel has received 56 MLS assignments following his breakthrough year in 2014.

Other new names on the FIFA list include PRO assistant referees Richard Gamache and Jeff Hosking. Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) member Gamache has ran the line in MLS for three years, while Hosking joins the FIFA ranks after six years at the top level.

U.S. Soccer has also had three new female officials appointed, with referee Karen Abt and ARs Kathryn Nesbitt and Deleana Quan being added.

Abt joins a list of experienced North American referees on the FIFA  roster, which includes CSA representatives Carol Anne Chenard and Michelle Pye, and U.S. Soccer’s Margaret Domka.

Canadian Mens Referees

Mathieu Bourdeau (2015)
Drew Fischer (2015)
David Gantar (2011)

Canadian Mens Assistant Referees

Daniel Belleau (2007)
Philippe Briere (2010)
Joe Fletcher (2007)
Richard Gamache (2016)

Canadian Womens Referees

Marie-Soleil Beaudoin (2014)
Carol Anne Chenard (2006)
Sheena Dickson (2013)
Michelle Pye (2007)

Canadian Womens Assistant Referees

Chantal Bourdeau (2015)
Marie Josee Charbonneau (2012)
Marie-Han Gagnon-Chretien (2015)
Suzanne Morisset (2008)

United States Mens Referees

Ismail Elfath (2016)
Mark Geiger (2008)
Edvin Jurisevic (2010)
Jair Marrufo (2007)
Baldomero Toledo (2007)
Ted Unkel (2016)
Armando Villarreal (2015)

United States Mens Assistant Referees

Frank Anderson (2012)
Eric Boria (2011)
Adam Garner (2014)
Jeff Hosking (2016)
Sean Hurd (2009)
Peter Manikowski (2012)
CJ Morgante (2007)
Corey Parker (2015)
Corey Rockwell (2007)
Adam Wienckowski (2007)

United States Womens Referees

Karen Abt (2016)
Margaret Domka (2007)
Katja Koroleva (2014)
Christina Unkel (2013)

United States Womens Assistant Referees

Felisha Mariscal (2014)
Kathryn Nesbitt (2016)
Deleana Quan (2016)
Amanda Ross (2014)