Who is Victor Gomes? Referee at 2022 World Cup

THE final World Cup squads are still yet to be announced, but we now know all of the referees who will be involved at Qatar and amongst them is Victor Gomes.

The South African is his country’s only representative this winter, after 2010’s hosts failed to qualify for the 20th year running.

AFP

Victor Gomes makes up 39 referees who will officiate at the Qatar World Cup[/caption]

Here is the low-down on Qatar’s ‘hero referee’.

Who is Victor Gomes?

Victor Miguel Freitas Gomes was born in Johannesburg in 1982.

Gomes has been a referee in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League since 2008, winning the Referee of the Season award twice in his career.

The 39-year-old was appointed an official FIFA referee in 2011 and has since taken charge of some huge international matches.

Few were more important than the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final which saw Senegal beat Egypt in a dramatic penalty shootout.

AP

Victor Gomes refereed the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final[/caption]

However, Gomes isn’t just known for his decisions on the field. The referee was praised by the South African people and Football Association after rejecting and reporting a bribe to fix a Confederation Cup match between Nigerian side Plateau United and Algerian side USM Alger.

Following the Qatar World Cup, the highly respected referee is reportedly set to hang up his whistle and retire from football, as per the iDiskiTimes.