Michelle O’Neill from Wexford will be among 99 match officials from 51 countries taking charge of games in the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Football tournaments in Tokyo in the coming weeks.
She was an assistant referee for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final between the USA and Holland in Lyon and is one of the leading officials in the world.
“I am absolutely over the moon, thrilled to bits,” she said in an interview yesterday with FAITV prior to departing for Japan. “It is such an honour for me to represent Ireland out in Tokyo this year at the Olympics Games. Even saying that in the one sentence, I still have to pinch myself. What an honour to be representing Irish referees and Irish football in Japan.”
“The World Cup final is the biggest honour that you can get as a referee but the Olympics tournament is something extra special. To be selected as a referee by FIFA for the Olympic Games you have to perform well, pass all the tests and training so I am so honoured to be going to Tokyo.”
Congratulating Michelle on her appointment, FAI Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Hill said: “On behalf of the Association and everyone involved with Irish football, I want to wish Michelle all the best at the Olympic Games in Japan when I know she will again do our game and her country proud. Michelle has been a trailblazer for Irish refereeing and this latest honour, two years after she officiated at the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in France, is no more than she deserves.”
Michelle’s selection for the Olympic Games coincides with confirmation from UEFA that four teams of Irish referees will officiate at upcoming European club competitions with Paul McLaughlin, Robert Clarke, Dermot Broughton, Damien MacGraith, Neil Doyle, Wayne McDonnell, Darragh Keegan, Graham Kelly, Robert Hennessy, Allen Lynch, Emmet Dynan, John McLoughlin and Robert Harvey all appointed to games throughout Europe.
UEFA Referee Observers Eddie Foley, Hilda McDermott, Gerard Perry and John Ward have also received appointments to UEFA club competition games.
“Michelle’s appointment and this news from UEFA is a great boost for Irish refereeing at a time when we are actively recruiting new referees. We have recently hosted online introductory courses for 250 new Grassroots referees which were a great success and we would encourage anyone who is interested in taking up refereeing to contact us via email at referees@fai.ie or visit the referee’s section on the FAI website at fai.ie.”
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