World Football governing body, FIFA, has named provisional referee list for the upcoming FIFA World Cup which is due in Russia. FIFA has released the list of potential referees that can officiate World Cup games in Russia as Ethiopian arbiter Bamlak Tessema managed to be included in the list.
The selected referees will be attending a preparatory seminar from November 25 to 29. The final list with specific roles will be announced once IFAB officially approves the use of video assistant referees (VARs) at the World Cup.
Bamlak is among the six referees from Africa that are being proposed for the prestigious football tournament. He has quiet an astounding year having officiated African Cup of Nations games in January 2018, African Cup of Nations and World Cup African zone qualifier games, FIFA U-17 World Cup game in India and the first leg final of the Total CAF Champions League between Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca in Alexandria. If Bamlak is selected by FIFA to officiate World Cup games, it will be the first time since the 2006 World Cup that an Ethiopia is officiating games in the major tourney. The last one being Luelsegese Begasahew who was an assistant referee in the 2006 World Cup Germany.
