Soccer: Kiwi referees get chance to whistle at World Cup

Referee Peter O'Leary believes he and fellow World Cup-bound compatriot Mike Hester stand a good chance of creating some more New Zealand soccer history by controlling a match in South Africa.

O'Leary and Hester, both 37, have already achieved a first for the country by being included among the 30 referees who will attend the finals tournament in June and July. From that list, Fifa will announced in May the 24 who will referee matches, with the six others acting as reserves or fourth officials.

While assistant referee Paul Smith ran the line for three matches at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea, no New Zealander has had the whistle for a World Cup finals fixture.

"I think it's pretty good," O'Leary said of his and Hester's chances of making the cut. "We've both worked very, very hard over the three years the programme has been running and we've got a good chance of making it."

O'Leary's reaction was one of elation when he found out on Saturday that he would be going to South Africa.

"I logged on to the website about 5.30am and it was like, 'Woo hoo, yeah!' Both Mike and I had been waiting to see if one or both of us would go and we're very pleased and very excited we've both been selected."

O'Leary has been to the Fifa Club World Cup over the past three years and to the past two under-20 World Cup tournaments. He and Hester have been involved in the A-League and the NZ Football Championship this season.

The 30 referees chosen by Fifa come from 28 countries and only New Zealand and Mexico have two representatives.

Fifa also named the assistant referees they would team with. O'Leary's trio has fellow New Zealander Brent Best and Mathew Taro from the Solomon Islands, while Hester has compatriot Jan Hintz and Tonga's Tevita Makasini.

- NZPA