Madrid, FIFA has announced the list of referees who will officiate at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

There will be 36 referees, 69 assistants and 24 video match officials heading over the tournament.

The process began three years ago, when up to 50 refereeing trios were analyzed as possible candidates, the Spanish MARCA newspaper said.

The official version is that the “best referees” are selected for the World Cup. In addition, they must be over 25 years old and under 45.

World Cup referees are selected by FIFA’s chief referee together, a 16-member committee plus a medical representative.

Ten of them are former referees and two others are in charge of judging their local leagues.

Although it hasn’t been announced which referees will officiate which matches, it’s important to remember that none of them can referee a match played by their national team.

Their performances in the first phase of the World Cup will determine if they are kept around for the knockout rounds.

For the first time in the history of this tournament, there will be three female referees.

Source: Oman News Agency