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Referee Opportunities and
Referees' Symposium
Referee Opportunities at the San Francisco Cup
Each year, the San Francisco Cup brings together seasoned referees and promising newcomers from all over the U.S. and around the world.
The annual Referee Symposium and Referee Field Clinic provide unique opportunities to learn from the most experienced referees in California North, the United States and the world.
If you are a young referee and have received recognition from your club or district, we want you here. Being one of our referees is a great opportunity for you to hone your skills and gain new insights from working alongside experienced referees. We assign excellent supporting assistants and provide opportunities for friendly feedback from the many assessors in attendance all you need to do is ask. For more information, contact us or sign up to officiate in the next San Francisco Cup.
2009 Referees' Symposium
More information about the 2008 Referee Symposium will be posted when it is available.
Friday, May 22
6:30 PM - Registration
7:00 PM - Symposium
There is no cost to attend the Symposium.
7th Annual San Francisco Cup
Referee Field Clinic
More information about the 2009 Referee Field Clinics will be posted when it is available.
For more information, please contact: eventdirector@sfcup.com
Previous Referee Symposiums
2008 Referee Symposium and Fifth Annual Referee Field Clinic
The 2008 Referee Symposium and Referee Field Clinic feature Jose Maria Garcia-Aranda, former Spanish and FIFA international referee and currently the Head of Refereeing for FIFA.
Jose Maria Garcia-Aranda
Bachelors and Masters in Physical Education, INEF,
Universidad Politécnica De Madrid
Professional experience:
- 1989-2001: Associated Professor of Football, INEF, Universidad Politécnica Madrid
- 2001-2003: Director of the Spanish Referees Academy
- 2003-present: FIFA Head of Refereeing
Career as referee:
- 1989-2001: First division Referee, Spain
- 1993-2001: International Referee
- 1996: Olympic Football Tournament, Atlanta, USA
- 1996: EURO, England
- 1997: Final of the Intercontinental Cup, Tokyo, Japan
- 1998: Final of the UEFA Cup, Milan, Italy
- 1998: FIFA World Cup, France
- 2000: EURO, Netherlands
- 1995 and 2001: Spanish Cup Finals (Copa SS.MM. el Rey)
As invited referee:
Official decoration:
- 2003: Real Orden del Merito Deportivo
2007 Referee Symposium and Fourth Annual Referee Field Clinic
The 2007 Referee Symposium and Referee Field Clinic feature Mohd Nazri Abdullah, FIFA Referee Instructor from Malaysia, and Esfandiar (Esse) Baharmast, U.S. Soccer, Director of Advanced and International Referee Development.
Mohd Nazri Abdullah
Mr. Abdullah has officiated internationally as a FIFA Referee from 1989-2000, including the Asian Cup Finals (Final match in 1996 and 2000), matches in CONCACAF, Gold Cup and African Cup of Nations. He was awarded the honor of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Referee of the Year in 1995.
After retiring from refereeing, Mr. Abdullah has held positions as:
- Refereeing Development Officer, FA Malaysia, 2001-2005
- Member of the AFC Referees Committee 2002-2005
- AFC Head of Refereeing July 2005 - February 2007
Mr. Abdullah currently is a FIFA Refereeing Instructor (since 2004) and an AFC Elite Instructor and Assessor (since 2001). He was appointed as an Instructor to:
- Futuro III Courses
- FIFA World Youth Championship, Holland 2005
- FIFA World Cup Germany 2006
- Malaysian Associations's Refereeing Development Course
Esfandiar "Esse" Baharmast
As a FIFA referee, Esse was involved at major World tournaments including 1995 Pan American games in Argentina, 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, 1997 Copa America in Bolivia and 1998 World Cup in France. In World Cup France 1998, Esse Baharmast became the first American to officiate two games at a World Cup. He was also named Major League Soccer Referee of the Year in 1997, and is the only referee to have officiated the triple crown of U.S. Open Cup, MLS and A-League Finals all in the same year.
He is currently Director of Advanced and International Referee Development at U.S. Soccer and a member of CONCACAF referee committee and a member of panel of instructors for FIFA.
2006 Referee Symposium and Fourth Annual Referee Field Clinic

The 2006 Referee Symposium and Referee Field Clinic featured recently retired Swedish Referee Anders Frisk. Referee Frisk has officiated at the highest level, including the 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 1996, 2000 (final match) and 2004, as well UEFA Champions League matches.
Anders Frisk: One of the greats bows out
(Reprinted by permission of FIFA.com) 19 Dec 2005
When a player retires, we usually look back at the honours he won over the course of his or her career. For a referee, there are no such titles, cups or medals, so it is often harder to leave a mark on a competition's history. Not so Anders Frisk, who certainly left his stamp on the world of refereeing before opting for early retirement in March 2005 after 18 years at the top. His was an exemplary career well worthy of the recognition bestowed by the FIFA Presidential Award. more »
2005 Referee Symposium and Third Annual Referee Field Clinic
The Referee Symposium featured Esfandiar (Esse) Baharmast, U.S. Soccer, Director of Advanced and International Referee Development; and Sandra Hunt, U.S. Soccer, National Instructor and National Assessor, Provisional.
Esfandiar "Esse" Baharmast
As a FIFA referee, Esse was involved at major World tournaments including 1995 Pan American games in Argentina, 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, 1997 Copa America in Bolivia and 1998 World Cup in France. In World Cup France 1998, Esse Baharmast became the first American to officiate two games at a World Cup. He was also named Major League Soccer Referee of the Year in 1997, and is the only referee to have officiated the triple crown of U.S. Open Cup, MLS and A-League Finals all in the same year.
Sandra Hunt
Sandra Hunt was a FIFA Referee from 1999 through 2004. She officiated in the following competitions:
- Womens World Cups in 1999 and 2003
- Sydney Olympics 2000
Sandra has been a FIFA Instructor and a FIFA FUTURO III Instructor since 2004. She was a FIFA Instructor for the following events:
- U19 Women's World Championships Thailand, 2004
- FUTURO III Course Bahamas 2004
- Algarve Cup 2005
2004 Referee Symposium and Second Annual Referee Field Clinic
The Symposium featured former FIFA Assistant Referee Fernando Tresaco (pictured at right) and FIFA Referee Silvia Regina de Oliveira, the first woman to ever referee a Brazilian National Championship match: Guarani versus São Paulo FC.
2nd Annual San Francisco Cup Referee Field Clinic
The clinic featured Fernando Tresaco (FIFA, Zurich, Referee Instructor) and Silvia Regina de Oliveira (FIFA, Brazil), the first female referee to officiate the top Brazilian professional league. (pictured at right)
2003 Referee Symposium and Inaugural Referee Field Clinic
The Symposium featured FIFA Referee Sonia Denoncourt (pictured at right).
Inaugural San Francisco Cup Referee Field Clinic
Featuring FIFA Referees Sonia Denoncourt, Sharon Wheeler and Brian Hall. Ms. Denoncourt refereed the Women's World Cup Final as well as the Olympic Final. Ms. Wheeler worked the final of the Algarve Cup in Portugal with Sandra Hunt. Mr. Hall refereed in the 2002 World Cup Finals.
2002 Referee Symposium Photo Gallery
2002 Featured Speakers Included:
Brian Hall
First FIFA Referee to the World Cup from Cal-North. Award ceremony in recognition of this achievement. (Pictured at left.)
Bob Evans
Former FIFA Referee, National Instructor, National Assessor, Published Author of "For the Good of the Game"
Carlo Servino
Assigned by FIFA as Referee Coordinator 2002 World Cup. Presenting Referees Mental Preparation for the 2002 World Cup
Tomorrows Referees
This group of referees is preparing to travel to Spain for training and development.
"The Football Concert"
30-minute film nominated for an Oscar.
Prior to 2002, featured speakers included:
- Esse Baharmast, World Cup '98 FIFA referee, U.S.A
- Dr. Edgardo Codesal Méndez (in photo), President of the Mexican Referee's Commission

In 1999, California North Referee's Association Assessment program held an open forum with two special guests:
- Mr. Herb DeSilva, Manager of Professional Referees and Professional Referee Assessments for U.S. Soccer
- Ms. Sandra Hunt, FIFA referee from Washington State and the U.S. representative at the 1999 Women's World Cup
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