Casey's supporting role for refs

Above: FIFA referee Casey Reibelt. Picture Joshua Springfield - Brisbane Roar

Casey Reibelt, the FIFA official who grew up and still lives in Moreton Bay, has been appointed Football Queensland’s (FQ) new Referee Coach and Support Officer.

Reibelt has officiated at state, A-League, A-League Women and international levels, including the 2023 Women’s World Cup finals, AFC Cup, Asian Games and Olympic Qualifying.

The former Dakabin State High School student was the 2023-24 A-League Referee of the Year and officiated the women’s grand final between Melbourne City and Sydney.

She will now use that experience to help develop Queensland’s referees and “really make a difference”.

“I want to help support the referees by offering mentorship and resources to boost their skills and professionalism,” Reibelt said on the FQ website.

“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.”

FQ General Manager – Strategic Game Development & Referees Andy Allan said. “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 played football at North Pine and Narangba and made her A-League debut in 2008. She got her FIFA Badge in 2014 and featured in three matches at last year’s Women’s World Cup.

“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,” she told FQ.

“To be able to say that I was part of the referee team that contributed to the success of the event is truly amazing!”

Reibelt is the second FIFA match official to join Football Queensland. The first was Misuk Park.