SA's Matthew Cream included on FIFA Panel of International Referees for 2021

Football SA is pleased to learn that South Australian FIFA Match Official, Matthew Cream, has been included in the 26 Australian Match Officials list who have been selected on the FIFA Panel of International Referees for 2021. 

Matthew is currently the longest-serving Australian FIFA Match Official on the current list. Cream, from South Australia, has held a FIFA badge since 2000. Throughout his respected career in the game, Cream has officiated at a range of FIFA tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014™ and the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014™.

Matthew took the longest-serving record last year from his SA mentor, Donald Campbell, and is thankful to have worked with him.

I am immensely proud and humbled to have been on the FIFA list for the last 22 years and never would have thought that it would be possible when starting out all that time ago. Being mentored by a fellow South Australian refereeing legend in Donald Campbell who was on the FIFA list for 2 decades ensured I had the best education and support of all. I can only thank him and every other colleague over that time for helping me along the way, and I am grateful for the opportunity afforded by those instrumental in my career.

On being selected for another year on the international stage, Cream added:

Being selected as an international referee is a privilege and one that doesn’t come lightly, through hard work and comes along with a large responsibility to the game. I have been very fortunate to be able to achieve this in the first place, and then maintain it every year by being dedicated to the sport and ensuring I gave it my all in every game and training session. You never know when it is going to be your last, and with the events of the past 12 months, I am looking forward to hopefully returning to the field of play overseas and demonstrating my commitment to the game. 

During a turbulent 2020, Matthew helped coach local match officials in his role as Football SA Senior Panel Instructor. 

But when asked what the future holds for Matthew, he is taking it as it comes. 

I’m not sure anyone really knows what the future has in store for us, and sometimes best-laid plans don’t come to fruition, but Father Time stops for no one and I know that at some point my body will no longer be able to stand up to the demands that international football dictates. Given the current longest-serving referee internationally is 2 years ahead of me I am not sure that (worldwide) record is achievable, but what is more important to me is to enjoy my involvement in the game no matter what that involvement is or at what level, and hopefully I can help the sport by doing that as well as assist fellow match officials to achieve their dreams and goals in the same way I did. 

Football SA would like to congratulate Matthew and all the below Australian Match Officials. 

Australian Match Officials on the FIFA Panel of International Referees 2021