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Screensize: 640 x 480 800 x 600 1024 x 768 1280 x 1024 UserName: Password: Format Mode: Basic  Help  Prompt  Format: Font Andale Mono Arial Arial Black Book Antiqua Century Gothic Comic Sans MS Courier New Georgia Impact Lucida Console Script MT Bold Stencil Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana   Size 1 2 3 4 5 6   Color Black Red Yellow Pink Green Orange Purple Blue Beige Brown Teal Navy Maroon LimeGreen Message: * HTML is OFF * Forum Code is ON Smilies [quote][i]Originally posted by Karl[/i] [br]Peter Prendergast The brilliant career of Mr Peter Prendegast exemplifies the discipline and sacrifice that is required for any football referee to reach the zenith in international refereeing and stay there for a long time. An international referee must keep abreast of the changes in the laws of the game, train hard in and out of season to meet the exacting physical requirements of the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA), the world-controlling body of football. FIFA's referees are required to take a physical examination, the litmus test of which is running 2,400 to 3,000 metres in 12 minutes. The regulation time of a match is 90 minutes consisting of two halves of 45 minutes each with a 15-minute interval. In an average match, the referee has to cover between 16,000 and 20,000 metres in order to keep up with play, a vital factor in refereeing. In fact all referees must be of sound character and a referee's conduct on and off the field, both at home and overseas, must be exemplary and he must be impervious to destructive criticism, foul and abusive language and threats. Of course, he has to apply the laws fearlessly and impartially. His career requires sacrifice and sometimes an international referee is short in giving his family all the attention they need. And yet no referee is infallible. The laws are so complex and their application in most cases requires split-second decisions that no matter how well prepared a referee is for a match, he is liable to make mistakes. The quality of refereeing is often judged by the fewer the mistakes he makes in a match. While committed to refereeing, he has to, at the same time, pursue his professional career to earn a livelihood. All these attributes apply to Prendergast and I write from personal experience having been FIFA referee for 18 years as well as a FIFA assessor of international referees and national referee instructor. I have assessed many of Peter's performances in Jamaica and seen him in action overseas. Knowledgeable fans and senior football officials have told me that in their opinion Peter is head above the best international referees produced by Jamaica since it first became a member of FIFA in l962. I agree and his track record seems to support this assessment of him. First Jamaican Peter recently became the first Jamaican referee and the second referee from the English-speaking Caribbean in history to be appointed by FIFA for the final tournament of the World Cup to be held later this year in Japan/South Korea. He was selected by FIFA from among more than 1,200 international referees from over 200 countries. Being appointed to referee in the final tournament of the World Cup is the ultimate goal of all referees which few have reached. Other Jamaican referees have officiated in the Central American, North American and Caribbean Regional finals of the World Cup and Olympic competitions but never selected for a final tournament. He is one of 36 international referees from around the world who will officiate at the World Cup finals. Thirty-eight year-old Prendergast decided to become a referee in l987 because as a player in senior competitions, he was not satisfied with the quality of refereeing he came up against. The first game to which he was officially appointed was between Kingston College and Camperdown in the Manning Cup Competition. But when he turned up, a senior referee who was one of his linesmen said, "Young boy, you can't handle this". But the other linesman, Clarence Cooke, a former FIFA referee, insisted that since he was appointed officially he should referee. After the match, he was commended by officials of both teams and senior referees and he has never looked back. His was another case of making the best use of opportunity. In l992 FIFA decided that there should be specialist linesmen (the name was later changed to assistant referees). Peter showed considerable talent as a linesman officiating in two back-to-back matches in the l994 World Cup qualifying tournament. After a while, he decided being an assistant referee on the lines was not really his place and shortly after, he was placed on the FIFA list of international referees on the recommendation of the Jamaica Football Federation. Since then he has travelled to South America, North America, Central America, Asia, Australia and other Caribbean countries refereeing in many international competitions including World Cup and Olympics qualifying games; Central America, North America, Caribbean Confederation finals as well as Gold Cup finals; Caribbean Shell Cup, United States vs Ireland in the Nike Games, qualifying games for the Asian Cup and several world youth tournaments. He has to his credit nine World Cup matches, a rare distinction among Caribbean referees, and he is looking forward to add to them in the World Cup this year. He said the most unforgettable game he refereed was the opening match of the 2000 Olympic games between Australia vs Italy in Sydney before 92,000 spectators. Peter has earned accolades from past FIFA president, Joa Havalange; present FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, and CONCACAF president, Jack Warner, for the high standard of his refereeing. He is popular among international referees of other countries because whereas many referees are inclined to keep information about development of refereeing and interpretation of the laws, Peter willingly shares it with them. He pays tribute to his wife and six children for the support they have given to him and for tolerating his frequent and long absence from home. For example, in 2000 he was away for 184 days refereeing overseas and he will be absent for 35 days during the World Cup in which he said he will try his utmost to keep Jamaica's flag flying high. Karl [/quote]   Check here to include your profile signature.