Muisheen scores for soccer referees

Leslie FERNANDO

One of the elite Sri Lanka's soccer referees Mohamed Muisheen Ariff's contribution for the game of football has been recognised by the FIFA and AFC for success he has achieved.

The Asia Football Confederation has selected Muisheen to work as Referees Development Officer in the Asia Region, Central and South.

Muisheen achieved this due to his efforts and dedication. He is very grateful to Manilal Fernando, Chairman Management Committee, FFSL, Vice President AFC, FIFA Development Officer and His Excellency Mohamed Bin Hammam, President AFC for the excellent support and encouragement extended to him.

"It was Manilal Fernando, the great football promoter who requested me to take up duties as Referees Development Officer", said Muisheen who has 45 years experience as a player, administrator, coach and referee. Chrysantha Perera, CEO of FFSL and Hurly Silveria, President FFSL also helped me immensely for my success," added Muisheen.

Firstly Manilal Fernando requested Muisheen to take up duties as Referees Director in Sri Lanka. Then Muisheen was selected by the FIFA/AFC to work as a Referees Development Officer on the recommendation of Manilal Fernando and Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Muisheen becomes the first Sri Lankan to serve in the Asian Referees Selection Panel to select international referees to FIFA. He has already conducted FIFA member association programme of courses in Maldives, Turministan, Bangladesh.

He left on Saturday, February to Pakistan for the MA Elite Referees Course. Muisheen will conduct the courses in Kyrygystan, Bhutan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Uzbekistan for this year.

He also becomes the first Sri Lankan to be a FIFA/AFC Referees Assessor and he is in the Panel of Recruiting Referees for Asian Panel. Muisheen is also in the Asian Referees Ad-Hoc Committee. The Asian Football Confederation has appointed him to the Organising Committee for AFC President's Cup and AFC Challenge Cup to 2011.

Muisheen's son Mohamed Fairoz Muisheen former Royal soccerite who toured with the Sri Lanka Schools Soccer team to Thailand worked together at the Asian Football Confederation, Malaysia for a couple of years.

Since 1984 Muisheen had been serving in the Asian Football Confederation as a FIFA Referee (from 1984 to 1994) thereafter he had other designations as Match Commissioner, Referees Instructor, Assessor, General Coordinator and Referees Development Officer. Muisheen came into the football scene after his schooling at Carey College then to Zahira College where he learnt his fundamentals in kicking a football. During his tenure as captain of Zahira College the school won the Brazil Cup in 1969. He was also a member of the Sri Lanka Youth Pool.

On leaving school he continued in the game and represented Victory SC with distinction and was in the champion victory SC team that toured India for All-India Tournament. He began refereeing in 1979 and passed the FIFA test in 1984. He is the President of the Sri Lanka Football Referees Association.

It should be noted that ex-FIFA referees were honoured by the SLFRA under the leadership of Muisheen recently at the Football House - to name a few of the reputed referees Perinpanayagam, MT, Ganeshalingam, C.S. Fernando, Nimal Wickrematunga, A.M. Yapa.

In the administrative side of things he was the Secretary City Football League and Assistant Secretary Mercantile FA. Muisheen was also employed at Ceylon Cold Stores and then at Airport and Aviation and represented both firms at soccer.

Muisheen who is an All-Island JP is stationed at the Football House as the FIFA Referees Development Officer, Central/South Asia Region and for the Football Federation of Sri Lanka he is the Consultant and Advisor for referees.