By Modou Lamin Beyai,
Gambian referee Bakary Papa Gassama will officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Russia from June 14 to July 15 next year.
World football governing body, FIFA, has published a list of 36 referees to attend a World Cup seminar from November 25 to 29 in Abu Dhabi that includes the Gambian though it says its final selection is planned for January.
The 38-year-old Papa Gassama is among six African referees, who have been chosen to officiate at the international football tournament.
The others from the continent are Mehdi Abid Charef of Algeria, Senegal’s Malang Diedhiou, Ghead Grisha of Egypt, Zambia’s Janny Sikazwe and Bamlak Tessema of Ethiopia.
FIFA selected 36 referees from 34 countries and regions for the 2018 World Cup next year.
The final list stating specific roles will be announced once the use Video Assistant Referees (VARs) at the World Cup is approved by IFAB.
2016 Sports Journalists’ Association’s (SJAG) Sports Personality award winner and CAF Champions League final referee, Gassama, was among a host of referees who also officiated at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia in June/July.
The 2018 World Cup will be the second tournament that Gassama will be officiating after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
