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2022 FIFA World Cup: Ismail Elfath – These are the interesting 17 facts you ought to know about the American referee who will officiate Ghana’s game against Portugal on Thursday

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1 year ago

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FIFA have appointed Moroccan-born American referee Ismail Elfath as the center referee for Ghana‘s Group H opening game against Portugal on Thursday at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Elfath was born in Casablanca, Morocco, however, he moved to the United States when he was eighteen and later acquired American citizenship.

Portugal lost the only game he has handled in his officiating career while West African side Mali also suffered a defeat against European side Italy during the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup in Poland.

These are some interesting facts you have to know about the 40-year-old referee.

  • Elfath was first a Fourth official in MLS in 2011 and made his MLS refereeing debut in 2012.
  • Elfath became a FIFA-listed official in 2016.
  • Elfath was the referee during an August 2016 match between New York Red Bulls II and Orlando City B where the worldwide first on-field Video Assistant Referee review took place as the system was being tested in USL.
  • On March 26, 2019, Elfath was selected to referee the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland.
  • On May 17, 2019, Elfath was appointed to officiate in the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States following his participation in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
  • Elfath was named the MLS Referee of the Year for the first time in his career on November 18, 2020.
  • He received the honor for a second time two years later on October 14, 2022.
  • In July 2021, Elfath took charge of three matches at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, including a quarter-final match between host nation Japan and New Zealand.
  • Elfath was chosen as one of the two referees from CONCACAF for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations held in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
  • He has officiated 19 games in 2022.
  • He has shown 4 red cards in 2022.
  • He has awarded 9 penalties in 2022.
  • He has shown 97 cards in 2022.
  • He shows an average of 4.84 cards per game in 19 games in 2022.
  • He was the center referee for the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final game between Flamengo and Saudi side Al-Hilal.
  • Portugal suffered a defeat 2-0 defeat to Argentina in the only game Elfath handled in the history of Portugal.
  • He has also handled a game once involving an African side at the world level. He was the man in charge when West African side Mali’s U20 suffered a 4-2 loss to Italy.

The post 2022 FIFA World Cup: Ismail Elfath – These are the interesting 17 facts you ought to know about the American referee who will officiate Ghana’s game against Portugal on Thursday appeared first on Ghana Sports Online.

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Black Stars fitness coach Ricky Roy reportedly dead

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5 days ago

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April 29, 2024

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He remained with the national squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the current Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Roy rose to prominence as a member of the coaching staff for Division One League club Vision FC in February 2020, before joining the national squad.

Romeo Ricky Roy, the fitness coach for Ghana’s senior national team, has died.

According to Ghana Football Association president Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku’s Facebook post, he died in Accra on Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Roy joined the Black Stars’ backroom staff in 2021, during Milovan Rajevac’s second spell as coach.

He remained with the national squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the current Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Roy rose to prominence as a member of the coaching staff for Division One League club Vision FC in February 2020, before joining the national squad.

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Veteran Sports Commentator Joe Lartey dies at 96

Published

7 days ago

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April 27, 2024

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Joe Lartey was born on June 6, 1927, in Accra and attended Accra Academy. Lartey, often known as "Over to You," was a well-known broadcaster and SWAG's founding president. Lartey began his media career as a football commentator with the Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC) in 1961. He grew to be a popular figure in Ghana's sports community. He subsequently spent a decade at Radio Nigeria before returning to GBC in 1990. During his stint, he presented shows including Sports Digest on GTV.

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has reported the death of Joe Lartey, a veteran Ghanaian football pundit and sports writer.

He passed away on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the age of 96.

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Joe Lartey was born on June 6, 1927, in Accra and attended Accra Academy. Lartey, often known as “Over to You,” was a well-known broadcaster and SWAG’s founding president.

Lartey began his media career as a football commentator with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in 1961.

He grew to be a popular figure in Ghana’s sports community.

He subsequently spent a decade at Radio Nigeria before returning to GBC in 1990. During his stint, he presented shows including Sports Digest on GTV.

In appreciation of his achievements in sports journalism, Lartey received the coveted “A Life in Sport” award from the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) during the AIPS Sport Media Awards ceremony in Doha, Qatar, in June 2022.

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Lartey’s impact stretched well beyond Ghana, with numerous Ghanaian football analysts praising him for moulding their careers.

Fans and colleagues alike will remember him warmly for his pioneering work in sports broadcasting.

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Xavi to stay as Barcelona’s coach until at least June 2025

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1 week ago

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April 25, 2024

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Xavi took over as manager of Barcelona in November 2021, after leaving Qatari club Al Sadd, and led the team to the Spanish title in his first full season in charge in 2022–23. However, they are 11 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid with six games remaining in the current season. Barcelona was eliminated from the Champions League last week after losing to Paris St. Germain in the quarterfinals.

Barcelona coach Xavi will stay with the club until at least the end of his contract in June 2025, having changed his mind about this being his final season.

The 44-year-old stated in January that he will stand down as manager this summer.

However, with president Joan Laporta desperate for him to stay, the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder has made a U-turn.

Xavi took over as manager of Barcelona in November 2021, after leaving Qatari club Al Sadd, and led the team to the Spanish title in his first full season in charge in 2022–23.

However, they are 11 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid with six games remaining in the current season.

Barcelona were eliminated from the Champions League last week after losing to PSG in the quarterfinals.

Xavi, who won 25 honours during his brilliant playing career at Barcelona, said he felt “liberated” with the revelation that he would leave the position at the conclusion of the season.

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When he announced his departure following the defeat to Villarreal, he felt he was not being safeguarded by the club and there was no clear direction.

However, the team’s fortunes have improved since Xavi felt comfortable taking a more casual attitude.

They went ten games undefeated in the league before falling 3-2 to Real Madrid on Sunday.

On Wednesday, there was a meeting at Laporta’s residence, and the club’s desire for him to stay was clear.

If Xavi is unable to strengthen the squad before the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Barcelona will attempt to persuade one of the high-profile managers out of contract, including Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, and Mikel Arteta.

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