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Ever heard of the International Football Association Board, the IFAB? It's a group consisting of people from FIFA and the England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales associations which guards the Laws of the Game (always in capitals, those Laws).

It sounds like something ancient, and it is, but this group has a say on new rules and Laws and in May they are going to meet to discuss the 2 extra referees UEFA has been experimenting with, the taking of a penalty kick (is tricking allowed?) and the triple punishment that occurs when a player who fouls in the box gets kicked off, gets a penalty against and gets suspended.

The IFAB has already decided to not persue the experiment with goal line technology.
Remember this must be very traditional people, most of them having lost their place and influence in football (Wales is currently the number 76 right under Uzbekistan, Ireland and Northern Ireland both are on 39) except when on this board.

This is the list. Bebek and Einwaller (non UEFA elite), Cofi Codjia (his own doing), Ovrebo (well..), Marrufo (bad reviews at home), Breeze (no idea why two New Zealanders but not Breeze) and Martin Vazquez, have to stay at home.

Joel Aguilar (SLV)
Khalil Al Ghamdi (KSA)
Carlos Amarilla (PAR)
Benito Archundia (MEX)
Hector Baldassi (ARG)
Carlos Batres (GUA)
Mohamed Benouza (ALG)
Olegario Bartolo F. Benquerenca (POR)
Frank De Bleekere (BEL)
Massimo Busacca (SWI)
Koman Coulibaly (MAL)
Jerome Damon (RSA)
Martin Hansson (SWE)
Michael Hester (NZL)
Ravshan Irmatov (UZB)
Victor Kassai (HUN)
Stephane Lannoy (FRA)
Jorge Larrionda (URU)
Eddy Maillet (SEY)
Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (MAY)
Yuichi Nishimura (JAP)
Peter O'Leary (NZL)
Pablo Pozo (CHI)
Marco Rodriguez (MEX)
Roberto Rosetti (ITA)
Oscar Ruiz (COL)
Carlos Simon (BRA)
Wolfgang Stark (GER)
Alberto Undiano Mallenco (SPA)
Howard Webb (ENG)

CAF has suspended Bonaventura Coffi Codjia after the semi-final match Algeria-Egypt. Suspended indefinitely because he didn't send off the Algerian goalie who head butted him and - this is probably worse - didn't mention the incident in his report.
Codjia, who was active at the 2002 and 2006 World Cup, may miss out on his third one

Ever heard of the Republic of Cabinda? It exists on internet on a site with a picture of a real COMANDANTE and the words FRONT, PEOPLES and LIBERATION. 1960's nostalgia.

But these people are very much here in 2010 and ambushed the bus of the national team of Togo, killing the driver, a press officer and an assistant coach and wounding the second goal keeper. So Togo went home, who wouldn't? The other national teams playing in Cabinda are staying, Angolan authorities promised better security measures. I turned out that that same comandante has warned CAF many times, and indeed: why play in a zone that is not safe?

If you spot a mistake or know more, please tell us.

Afghanistan out: Farzad Gawhary Albania in: Lorenc Jemini Algeria out: Abdelselem Khelifi, Djaballah Touati in: Farouk Houasnia Argentina out: Alejandro Sabino in: Nestor Pitara Aruba out: Rudolph Angela Armenia out: Karen Nalbandyan, Ararat Tchagharyan in: Vahan Minasyan, Tigran Hovsepyan, Suren Baliyan Austria out: Stefan Messner, Fritz Stuchlik, Konrad Plautz in: Harald Lechner,  Rene Eisner, Oliver Drachta Azerbajian out: Babak Guliyev in: Anar Salmanov Bahrain out: Jasim Karim in: Jameel Abdulhusain Bangladesh in: Mohd Moinul Islam, Bharot Chandra Gour Barbados out: Mark Forde, Royon Small Belarus in: Siarhei Tsynkevich Belgium out: Paul Allaerts in: Sébastien Delferiere Belize out: Victor Williams in: Amir Castilla Benin out: Cocou Lamidi Bhutan out: Ratan Rai in: Ashok Burja Bolivia out: Rene Ortube, Hebert Aguilera in: Cesar Estrada, Jose Gallardo, Peter Guerrero Bosnia-Herzeghovina out: Sinisa Zrnic, Rusmir Mrkovic in: Elmir Pilav, Emir Aleckovic Botswana out: Thapelo Disang, Israel Malepa in: Kutiwano Leso, Lekgotia Johannes (re-entry) Brazil out: Leonardo Gaciba in: Pericles Cortez Bulgaria out: Tsvetan Georgiev, Hristo Ristokov in: Georgi Yordanov, Aleksandar Kostadinov Burkina Faso out: Lassina Pare in: Albert Sanon, Oumarou Ouedraogo Cambodia out: Try Chhun, Yin Nuon in: Virak Thuon, Chanketya Thong Cameroon out: Raphael Divine Evehe, Theophile Kamdon, Lambert Eyene in: Christopher Nde, Mathurin Ottou, Aurelien Wandji Cape Verde out: Claudio Moreno Cayman Islands out: Alfredo Whittaker in: Nolan Foster Central African Republic out: Jean Langandzi-Yakpa in: Steve Taley Chile out: Carlos Chandia, Eduardo Ponce in: Eduardo Gamboa, Miguel Alvaro Colombia out: Hector Parra Comoros out: Ben Nassem, Abdul Chamsidine in: Saindou Ibrahim, Ansudane Soulaimana Congo out: Rene Louzaya, Mathieu Goma in: Gisles Kouendze, Serge Soumou Costa Rica out: Mario Barrantes Croatia out: Vlado Svilokos, Drazenko Kovacic in: Domagoj Vuckov, Igor Pristovnik Cuba out: Berlys Duran Cyprus out: Kostas Kapitanis, Panikos Kailis, Christos Elia in: Marios Panayi Marios Stamatis, Ioannis Anastasiou Dominica out: Daniel Leslie Dominican Republic out: Felix Suazo in: Junior Antonio Bautista, Ulisse Sanchez Garcia

El Salvador in: Ruben Medrano England out: Mike Riley, Steve Tanner in: Lee Probert Estonia out: Sten Kaldma in: Kristo Tohver (Estonia) Ethiopia out: Selamu Bekele, Siamregn Dagne, Virgalem Wigidris in: Alemayehu Esheto, Addisu Negash, Sherafa Dilicho Fiji out: Andrew Achari Finland out: Jouni Hyytia in: Antti Munukka (Finland); France out: Philippe Kalt, Damien Ledentu, Bertrand Layec in: Clément Turpin, Anthony Gauthier Georgia out: Levan Paniashvili in: David Kharitonashvili Germany out: Herbert Fandel in: Michael Kempter Ghana in: Samuel Kofi Gyasi Greece out: Ioannis Stavridis in: Stavros Tritsonis, Ilias Spathas Grenada out: George Phillip Guatemala in: Oscar Reyna Moller Guinea out: Mamadou Kaba Guyana out: Roy McArthur, Otis James in: Mark Young Haiti out: Rosnick Grant, David Edren in: Alain Georges Honduras out: Ricardo Zelaya, Marlon Munoz Hong Kong out: Oi Cho Cheng in: Sai Yin Pau Iceland out: Gardar Hinriksson, Johannes Valgeirsson in: Thóroddur Hjaltalin, Thorvaldur Amason Italy in: Daniele Orsato, Antonio Damato Israel out: Asaf Kenan in: Liran Liany, Eli Hacmon Kazakhstan out: Sergey Gorokhovodatskiy in: Anatoliy Vishnichenko Lithuania out: Paulius Malzinskas in: Nerijus Dunauskas Malta out: Anthony Zammit in: Alan Mario Sant Northern Ireland out: Adrian McCourt in: Raymond Crangle Norway out: Brage Sandmoen in: Ken Henry Johnsen Poland out: Marek Mikolajewski in: Marcin Szulc, Dawid Piasecki Portugal out: Paolo Costa in: Artur Manuel Ribeiro Soares Dias Romania in: Istvan Kovacs, Ionut Marius Avram  Russia out: Nikolay Ivanov in: Vladimir Pettai, Sergei Karasev Scotland out: Calum Murray, Charlie Richmond in: Steven McLean,  Robert Madden Serbia out: Ninoslav Spasic in: Vlado Glodovic  Slovakia out: Vladimir Hrinak in: Ján Valasek Slovenia out: Robert Kranjc in: Slavko Vincic Spain out: Medina Cantalejo in: David Fernandez Borbalan

here's the rest

India out: Suresh Srinivasan, Praveer Bose, Minagsu Bhattacharya Indonesia out: Daryanto Marto, Aspiran Najamuddin in: Suwandi Suwandi, Chusnul Yakin Iraq out: Samir Akool in: Ali Adday Jamaica in: Dave Peterkin Jordan out: Yousef Shahin in: Mohammad Al Rshidat Kenya out: Alfred Ndinya in: Davies Ogenche Omweno Korea out: Eui Soo Kim in: Dong Jun Lee Korea DR out: Thae Ho Hwang, In Choi Kang Kuwait out: Al Shemmari in: Al Shatti (again) Kyrgyzstan out: Muzaffar Abdullaev in: Sergey Kravchenko Lebanon in: Vartan Matossian Lesotho out: Daniel Letsie, Moeti Mpopo in: Relebohile Ntsane Libya out: Mohamed Imhamed, Jamel Ambaya in: Mohamed Al Zalouk, Mohamed El Hatab Madagascar out: Abdillah Mohamad in: Hamada Nampiandraza Malawi out: Verson Lwanja, Patrick Kapanga in: Duncan Lengani, Dennis Nguluwe Malaysia out: Rosdi Shaharul, Danny Kim Heng in: Sittharanjanan Subramaniam, Mohd Mohd Said Maldives out: Rasheed Riyaz Mauritius out Dharmanand Roopnah, Seethiah Ram in: Ganesh Chutooree, Mohammad Imteaz Sodul, Mohammad Sodul Mexico out: German Arredondo, Hugo Leon Guajardo in: Jose Penaloza, Ricardo Arellano Nieves Morocco out: Said Tahri in: Hicham Tiazi Mozambique out: Justino Faduco, Mateus Infante, Antonio Masango in: Estevao Matsinhe, Samuel Chirinda Namibia out: Arvo Mufeti, Mathews Katjimune in: Ananias Kangandi Nepal out: Gyanu Shrestha, Surendra Sikhrakar in: Bikash Mahat, Satchin Amatya New Caledonia in: Isidore Assiene-Ambassa Nicaragua out: Juan Nunez Nigeria in: Henry Ogunyamodi Oman out: Mahmood Al Ghatrifi, Khamis Al Shammaki in: Abdallah Al Saadi, Yaqoob Abdul Baki Pakistan out: Jehangir Khan, Imtiaz Ali Sham in: Naseer Ahmad, Shahid Rasheed Palestine out: Mahmous Al Jaish in: Jawad Assi, Abdelfattah El Attar (again) Panama out: Rolando Vidal Paraguay in: Enrique Caceres Peru in: Henry Gambeta Avalos Phillipines out: Alan Martinez, Wilfredo Bermejo PNG out: Joachim Sosongan, Peter Paliwa Qatar in: Khamis Al Marri Rwanda out: Michel Gasingwa, Janvier Buregeya in: Janvier Kalimba, Louis Munyemana Saudi Arabia out: Mamdou Al Mirdasi, Abdulrahman Al Harbi in: Maral Al Awaji, Abdullah Al Qhatani Sierra Leone out: Rashid Sanusie, Ahmed Nasser, Ahmed Bangura in: Raymond Coker, Jibson Gaima, Abdul Kabia Singapore in: Kalimuthu Kashiappan Solomon Islands out: Chistopher Lengeta, Andrew Moli in: George Time Somalia out: Ahmed Hussain Omar in: Nur Ahmed Abdulle South Africa out: Jonas Nhlapo in Daniel Volgraaff Sri Lanka in: Robesh Gamini, Mohomed Nizam St Lucia out: Francis Fanus, Gilles Arthur, John George in: Canaan St Catherine Surinam out: Henry Kia, Jerry Budel in: Jermain Elskamp Swaziland out: Gilbert Dlamini Syria out: Safwan Othman, Ali Aid, Zakaria Alloush, Ahmad Dellou, Abdelrahman Recho in: Shadi Asfour, Masoud Tufaylieh, Mohamed Daba, Ahmad Balhos, Mahmoud Turki (again) Thailand out: Surasek Kundiloksirodom, Prayoon Veerapool, Nitipum Kallabut in: Pratan Nasa Wang, Porached Wongkamdee, Moncholchal Pechsri Trinidad & Tobago in: Lee Davis Uganda in: Brian Miiro UAE out: Khalid Al Senan in: Mohammed Mohamed Uruguay out: Fernado Falce Langone, Louis Larranaga, in: Hector Martinez Dreyer USA out: Alex Prus in: Edvin Juricevic Uzbekistan out: Valeriy Kostrikin in: Viktor Serazitdinov Vanuatu out: Lencie Fred in: Robinson Banga, Soterio Bernard, Bruce George Venezuela out: Denis Duque Parra Zambia out: Cornelius Mwanza in: Bernard Chabala Zimbabwe out: Kenny Marange, Tendayi Bwanya, Chistopher Manuel in: Ruzive, Norman Matemera

On top of our top 10 this year is Sergio Pezzotta. People in Europe may not have seen much of him, but he's been in charge of a lot of important matches in South America this year. And very convincingly so.

Runner up is Massimo Busacca who did very well as we have become accustomed to. One glitch was the Uruguay - Costa Rica match, were he seemed not to have studied the teams well beforehand. Without that he might very well have made it to nr 1 this year.

Claus Bo Larsen wound up number 3 after another solid year.

You can have a look at the full top 10 - and top 100 as well if you're up to it - by clicking this line.

Congratulations to all.

Thanks
Our thanks go out to our star reporters: padre who writes the best English and always seems to hit the nail on the head; maia, who writes the best Brazilian and watches far too many matches; Ray Miller-Short, the steadfast Walter Cronkite of WorldReferee; our keen-eyed Karl Muller and the well-versed, well-informed Croref. A special thanks to Fede as well, who had a busy year but kept those great reports coming. And then, let's not forget mrsal who did a fantastic job for us and the amazing SoccerEye of course, the excellent Wolfgang Sittmayer and the brilliant Edvard Kotayk, Terrence Lima, danp, Dave Eisenhower, jack, James Ng, EPV, zizu, Ederson Polka, Andri V., F. Amoco Cadiz, Kvas, Nacho, othonas, eric, Dreyff Mancusi... We could go on, and should but New Year's preparations await us, and long stories don't work that well on the internet anyway. Thanks to you our readers, reporters and regulars as well. Hope to see you again here in 2010.

A Happy New Year from WorldReferee.

(Jack and Axel)