Three local referees Sherwin Johnson, Maurees Skeete and Kleon Lindey have been named on the FIFA Refereeing International List enabling them to officiate at international matches next year.
The FIFA lists are updated each year with approved and qualified referees and assistant referees from all over the world on the basis of nominations from national federations.
The nominations are then reviewed by the FIFA Referees Committee, chaired by 2002 FIFA World Cup Final referee Pierluigi Collina.
“The GFF is extremely elated by the re-nomination of our three match officials to the 2021 FIFA list of referees,” said GFF Executive Committee member and Head of Refereeing Dion Inniss.
Inniss, a former FIFA match official added: “Because of the pandemic, no opportunities were presented to them for officiating even at the local level, much less the international level. We know how distressing this was for them. They were not able to showcase their talent. We wish them the very best as soon as we are allowed to return to play in 2021 and we know that they will go out and represent Guyana proudly on the field,” he added.
Johnson and Skeete have been wearing the prestigious FIFA badge since 2012 and 2014 respectively while assistant referee Lindey featured in the selection from 2015.
Skeete, a Staff Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force, has been nominated for Concacaf female referee of the year on two occasions.
“I’m very elated to have been re-nominated to the FIFA 2021 list,” Johnson said.
“With hard work and determination comes success but I feel as though this one was given to me too easy because little football was played due to the COVID-19 pandemic but I’m eagerly awaiting the return to play so that I can once again showcase my talent with the Golden Arrowhead flying high. I want to thank God for his continued protection and my family for their never-ending support,” Johnson ended.
