South African referee Victor Gomes will be officiating his second match at the 2022 Fifa World Cup when Japan and Spain face off in a final Group D clash at Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday, December 1.
The 39-year-old made his tournament debut when world champions France hammered Australia 4-1 on November 22.
Gomes has been given another task – in a fate-deciding clash which has the Blue Samurai of Japan – who were humbled by Costa Rica after shocking Germany in the opening round – needing a win against La Roja to guarantee their spot in the last-16.
He becomes the first African referee to officiate two matches. The likes of Janny Sikazwe, Bakary Papa Gassama, and Mustapha Ghorbal have all handled one game while Rwandan Salima Mukansanga has only been a fourth official so far.
Just like in the first, Gomes will be helped on the lines by compatriot Zakhele Siwela (Assistant I) and Lesotho’s Souru Phatsoane (Assistant II) while female official Mukansanga takes her third game as Fourth Official. Her second will be Tunisia vs France clash on Wednesday.
Japan vs Spain kicks off at 19:00 GMT.
Full appointment:
Referee: Victor Gomes (RSA)
Assistant Referee 1: Zakhele Thusi Siwela (RSA)
Assistant Referee 2: Souru Pathsoane (LES)
Fourth Official: Salima Mukansanga (RWA)
Reserve Assistant Referee: Malick El Hadji Samba (SEN)
Video Assistant Referee: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Armando Villarreal (USA)
Offside Video Assistant Referee: Kyle Atkins (USA)
Support Video Assistant Referee: Adil Zourak (MAR)
Standby Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Nicolas Taran (URU)
