Governing body for football and futsal in Queensland
Football Queensland is thrilled to announce the appointment of FIFA match official Casey Reibelt as Referee Coach & Support Officer.
Since her A-League officiating debut in 2008, Brisbane-born Reibelt has become one of Queensland’s most inspiring and decorated referees having received her FIFA badge in 2014 and officiated in both the Men’s and Women’s A-Leagues, as well as countless international football matches and esteemed tournaments such as the AFC Cup, Asian Games and Olympic Qualifying.
In 2023, Reibelt was one of four selected Australian referees to officiate in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, featuring in three matches, including the unforgettable Round of 16 match between Sweden and the United States as well as the group stage matches for eventual finalists Spain and England.
“The appointment of Casey in this role represents an important boost to Football Queensland, as she brings her elite-level knowledge to assist in mentoring and developing our referee community as we look to upskill and develop broader pathways in Queensland,” General Manager – Strategic Game Development & Referees Andy Allan said.
“Casey’s groundbreaking journey as part of the Australian and international referee community is highlighted through multiple achievements including recently being named 2023-24 Liberty A-League Referee of the Year and appointed to officiate the Grand Final between Melbourne City and Sydney FC.
“Adding to her accolades, last year Casey made history when she became the first Australian female referee to officiate in the 2023 AFC Champions League and was also one of four Australian match officials involved in the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ last year.
“Having someone of Casey’s calibre working with our referees will be a huge boost as they stand to gain invaluable insights from her extensive experience officiating top-tier matches. Her addition will help advance our referee development capabilities, supporting our strategic objective of having Queensland match officials represented at every level of refereeing globally.”
Reibelt’s appointment marks the inclusion of a second FIFA match official on the Football Queensland staff, joining Misuk Park. This development further bolsters Football Queensland’s commitment to supporting the advancement of high-quality referee training and development opportunities along with the development of clear development pathways for match officials in Queensland, which clearly align with the key objectives outlined in the 2024-2026 Referee Strategy.
“I’m excited to bring my experiences into play to really make a difference. With my background as a football referee with Football Australia and FIFA, I want to help support the referees by offering mentorship and resources to boost their skills and professionalism,” Reibelt said.
“Last year’s World Cup has had a significant impact on women’s sport not only in Australia and New Zealand, but all around the world. To be able to say that I was part of the referee team that contributed to the success of the event is truly amazing!
“I’m a big believer in always getting better. I’ll use my experience with self-assessment and feedback to support FQ’s systems that keep referees growing and learning, as officiating is always changing, so it’s important for referees to be constantly learning, flexible and innovative.
“Overall, I’m aiming to have a positive and lasting impact on the football community in Queensland by giving referees the support and tools they need to thrive in their roles.”
As Football Queensland continues to build off the momentum from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, Reibelt’s addition will strengthen FQ’s commitment to prioritising elite opportunities for women and girls in all areas of the game which will be a significant step towards achieving FQ’s goal of 50/50 gender parity by 2027.
“We are excited to welcome Casey as she undertakes a crucial role of mentoring and developing our match officials, marking a significant stride forward towards our ambition of positioning Football Queensland as the leading pathway provider for developing world-class match officials in the nation,” Allan said.
