Chris Beath appointed as a video match official for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019

FIFA have recently announced that Hyundai A-League referee Chris Beath has been appointed as a video match official for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 which will be held in France from 7 June – 7 July.

Chris will join fellow Australian Referees Kate Jacewicz and Casey Reibelt have been selected as part of the contingent of 90 match officials for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup

FFA Head of Leagues, Greg O’Rourke, congratulated Chris on his significant appointment.

“On behalf of the Australian Football community we would like to officially congratulate Chris on his appointment as a video match official for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup,” said O’Rourke.

“Australia was one of the first member associations to use the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocol and Chris was one of the first match officials in the world to become qualified as a VAR.

“This appointment shows the benefit of being at the forefront of innovation in the game for our match officials,” concluded O’Rourke.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) Director of Referees, Ben Wilson, echoed O’Rourke’s sentiments.

“This is a well-deserved appointment for Chris who has plenty of international match experience as both a referee and as a VAR,” said Wilson.

“Chris was a VAR at the recent AFC Asian Cup 2019 in the UAE and was appointed as an Assistant VAR for the AFC Asian Cup Final between Japan and Qatar.

“We wish Chris, Kate and Casey all the best for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup in France and I am confident that they will perform at their best whatever matches they are appointed too,” concluded Wilson.

Following official confirmation of his first FIFA Tournament appointment, Chris was honoured to be considered as one of two representatives from the AFC as a video match official.

"I'm very proud and humbled to have been selected as one of the VAR's for the FIFA Women's World Cup in France. I'm looking forward to working with some of the best Referees in the World, including our own world-class Referees - Kate and Casey,” said Beath.

“I'm also very thankful to the Hyundai A-League and the FFA Referees Department for making the decision many years ago to be the first domestic competition in the world to implement VAR. This has put Australian referees in a great position in the current football environment,” concluded Beath.