Financial Tribune- Referee Alireza Faghani says Asian referees will walk tall in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and demonstrate a luminous career.

“In AFC there is always a team behind us, working in all aspects - in terms of medical, physical and technical matters,” Faghani said backing the claim why AFC referees can shine in the World Cup.

“We have practical training in all seminars. That’s what we have all been preparing for in the tournaments. We have a fair competition with the other referees in AFC and the rest of the world. With these key elements, the AFC referees perform well in all FIFA tournaments,” AFC website quoted him as saying.

Faghani needs no introduction in the world of football. He has taken charge of a number of high-profile games in Asia and is up there among the best in the world.

In his impressive career, the 40-year-old has officiated finals of the 2014 AFC Champions League, 2015 AFC Asian Cup, 2015 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Football Tournament.

Faghani also talked about his dreams and hopes, namely to be able to judge in the final game of the World Cup.

Working for a Dream

“To reach the finals of the World Cup is our dream and this is what we are working for” Faghani said. “I hope that one Asian referee has the chance to officiate the World Cup final.”

“I hope that the Iranian refereeing team will qualify for the final. But if not, there are many talented Asian referees with good quality who can officiate. We have experience for the opening match, and we have the opportunity to challenge and compete with other referees in the world to officiate at the highest level,” he added.

Faghani started his career in 1994 and became a FIFA referee in 2008. By 2009 he become an elite referee and went on to build his career by officiating in the AFC Cup, AFC Champions League and two years later, participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as a support referee.

The 2016 AFC Referee of the Year built on the experience and officiated in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final and was also tasked with the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Asian play-off match between Syria and Australia.

The 2018 edition will be Faghani’s second stint in the World Cup. His last appearance was in Brazil 2014 where he was the fourth official for seven matches, including the opening match between hosts Brazil and Croatia.