Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chief Executive Officer David Gallop has today announced Shaun Evans as the third member of the full-time Professional Referees Panel.
Evans has been appointed for the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons.
The 28-year-old joins Jarred Gillett and Chris Beath as full time professional referees and replaces Ben Williams who recently retired from refereeing to spend more time with his young family.
Evans has been a member of the Hyundai A-League Referee Panel since 2008 but was elevated from Assistant Referee to Referee for the 2012/13 season. He has refereed 37 matches and been an Assistant Referee on 46 occasions.
“We are delighted to appoint Shaun Evans as the third member of the Full Time Professional referee Panel for the next two years,” Gallop said. “The launch of the full time referee program was a significant step forward last year and along with Chris Beath and Jarred Gillett, Shaun will be an important part of the evolution of the professional referee program.”
Evans, who was juggling his match official duties with a job as a bricklayer, has commenced his role with the FFA and excited about the possibility of concentrating solely on improving as a referee.
“This is an amazing opportunity for me to really focus on my refereeing career,” Evans said. “I love refereeing and I’m excited to be able to put all of my attention and energy into improving myself and to have a sole focus towards being a better referee.
“The Full Time Professional Referee program has been a great development for referees as it not only gives a full time environment for referees but it also gives young referees something to aspire to and consider refereeing as a profession.”
FFA Director of Referees Ben Wilson said: “Shaun is a fantastic addition to the Full Time Professional Referee Panel. Shaun has made some very good progression over recent years and has all the right attributes to be a successful full time referee.
“I look forward to working with Shaun and have no doubt he will make further improvement when operating in a full time environment.”
Shaun Evans
BORN 21 October 1987
OVERVIEW
- Shaun began officiating in the Hyundai A-League in 2008 when he was an Assistant Referee, a position he held through to the end of the 2011/12 season.
- Shaun was elected to the Hyundai A-League Match Officials Panel as a Referee for the 2012/13 season.
- Shaun has taken part in 46 Hyundai A-League matches as an Assistant Referee and 37 games as a Referee.
- Shaun was only able to referee 7 matches throughout the 2015/15 season as he suffered a shoulder injury.
HONOURS
- 2007 FFV Development Referee of the Year
- 2010 FFV NPL Grand Final
- 2010 FFV Referee of the Year
- 2014 Westfield FFA Cup Final Additional Assistant Referee
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Chinese Super League – 4 matches
- 2014 Chinese FA Cup Final 1st Leg
- 2015 Saudi Arabia v Qatar – AFC Asian Cup warm-up match
HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE:
- 37 matches (as a Referee)
- 46 matches (as an Assistant referee)