SG Asst Referee Mo Matadar
Mo was promoted to the Select Group of Assistant Referees in 2007 and in the same year was appointed as an Assistant Referee to a UEFA Cup Tie and also to a UEFA under 19’s Tournament.
How did you get introduced into refereeing?
During University I was always strapped for cash (typical student). I used to help run a junior football team whilst at University and quite often we were short of a referee to take charge of our games. I was the only one stupid enough to step in when no referee appeared. As a result, I enlisted on a referee course and soon continued to referee on a regular basis for a bit of extra cash whilst at Uni. I had got refereeing into my system from there on……………
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
The 2 highlights of my career so far have been:
1) Being promoted onto the Select Group of Assistant Referees
2) Being promoted onto the FIFA list of Assistant Referees
What has been the best game you have officiated and why?
I have been lucky enough to represent The FA abroad and in October 2007 I was asked to run a line in a UEFA Champions League game in Russia. This was an awesome game to have been appointed to as the magnitude of the tie was enormous (CSKA Moscow Vs Inter Milan). To be involved in the kind of game I would only really watch on TV was unreal. The world’s most premier club competition and I was running the line in it – Amazing!
What are your aims as a Select Group Assistant Referee?
1) Be regularly involved in the high profile games in the Premier League involving the high profile teams.
2) Ensure my position within the list improves on an annual basis
3) Try and put performances in where ALL Select Group referees are comfortable working with me.
What skills do you think you need to become a Select Group Assistant Referee?
1) Speed and agility – This is to enable the Assistant Referee is able to keep up with quick players.
2) Focused – This is to ensure that external pressure from crowds, dugouts and substitutes do not detract my attention away from what the demands of the game are.
3) Teamwork – It is important that an Assistant Referee can build a rapport with the Referee so that the game is controlled by a team of match officials and not by 1 Referee.
Who has been the biggest influence in your career and why?
My family have been very supportive to me and they have ensured that despite being away from home for long periods and my constant whinging about performances, marks, games etc they have ensured that the demands they place on me are kept to a minimum knowing that football is a cut-throat business and that the demands of football can be sometimes overbearing. Thank you everyone!
In your opinion who is/was the best Assistant Referee?
Without doubt Philip Sharp has to be the best Assistant Referee this country has ever produced. As a World Cup final Assistant Referee, he has been at the top of his profession for so long in this country and beyond.
