MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Liberia Football Referee Association has released the names of referees accepted by football’s governing body, FIFA, with Sylvania Garnett becoming the only woman making the list of referees for 2019.

According to the release, which was made via the official Facebook page of the Liberia Football Association, the nine referees were selected from the list of 12 names submitted to FIFA by the Liberia Football Referee Association. Out of the nine referees accepted, five were accepted as center referees including Sylvania Garnett, while four were accepted as assistant referees.

Veteran referee Jerry Yekeh retained his FIFA badge and is joined by George Rogers, Hassan Corneh, and Isaac Montgomery, who was just appointed as the secretary general of the Liberia Football Association. Sekou S. Kanneh Jr., Joel Wanka Doe, Abraham Boye Fahnbulleh, and Johnson Gbartea were accepted as assistant referees.

Sylvania Garnett was accepted as a female international referee. She became the first female to officiate in the National County Sports Meet when she oversaw the first women’s football game where Lofa grabbed a 4-0 win over Margibi. She went on to officiate the final game between Nimba and Lofa, which was won by Nimba from the penalty spot after both teams drew in 90 minutes.

Garnett was excited to have been named among the referees as she looks forward to embracing the new challenge. She told The Bush Chicken that being named as a FIFA-badged referee comes with huge responsibilities and she’s prepared for the task ahead.

“I’m glad to have been named among the [FIFA] referees,” she said. “I’ve been preparing for [a] time like this and I’m fully prepared for the tasks ahead.”

She becomes the first Liberian female referee in eight years to be accepted by FIFA.

Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.