Football South Australia wishes to congratulate Daniel Elder on his appointment to FIFA’s Panel of International Referees for 2022.
Football Australia announced on Tuesday the FIFA International Refereeing lists. This is Daniel’s first appointment to the FIFA referees list, and will allow him to officiate in FIFA sanctioned tournaments and fixtures.
Daniel has been refereeing in South Australia for 14 years, and made his Senior debut in the State League in 2011. A four-time Mike Ingham Referee of the Year winner, Daniel has refereed 3 RAA National Premier Leagues SA Grand Finals (2015, 2016 and 2017) and one FFA Cup SA Qualifying Final (2019).
Since debuting as a referee on the national league in 2016, Daniel has whistled 53 matches in the A-League Men’s competition. His excellent performances in the 2020-21 season saw him appointed to the 2021 A-League Mens Grand Final in June as Fourth Official.
Locally, Daniel is the Lead Instructor of the Football South Australia Referee Academy, formed in 2020 to provide promising and dedicated young match officials with the opportunity to receive specialised training and coaching. Daniel is also a member of the Football South Australia Referee Coaching Advisory Group.
When asked to reflect on his first appointment to the FIFA Lists, Daniel said:
I am honoured and humbled to have been placed on the FIFA International Refereeing Lists for the coming year. Getting my FIFA Badge has been a career ambition of mine for many years, and I would not have been able to reach this goal without the help of my colleagues and coaches at every level of my refereeing over the past 14 years. I am also extremely grateful to have been supported in this journey by my family, my friends, and my wife, Bethany. I am looking forward to continuing to develop and improve and to serve the game as well as I can."
Football SA State Referee Committee Chair Michelle Smith congratulated Daniel on his appointment, saying:
It has been an absolute honour and pleasure to watch Daniel grow over the last 14 years as both as a referee and a person. He's had his ups and downs, but through dedication, determination, and resilience he has continued to rise up through the ranks step by step to this prestigious point of his career being recognised in the elite pool of referees who have received the honour being awarded FIFA badge. We are very proud of Daniel and wish him all the very best as he takes the next steps in his refereeing career."
Football South Australia congratulates Daniel on his promotion to the FIFA Panel of International Referees, and wishes him all the best for the season ahead representing South Australia on the national and international stage.