Ashraf Hussainzada

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Ashraf Hussainzada
Full name Mohammad Ashraf Hussainzada [1]
Born Afghanistan
Domestic
YearsLeagueRole
2024–present Afghanistan Champions League Referee
International
YearsLeagueRole
2025–present FIFA listed Referee
2023–present CAFA Referee

Mohammad Ashraf Hussainzada [1] is an Afghan football referee who, as of 2025, is the only FIFA-listed central referee from the country, [1] [2] who has mostly been active at CAFA tournaments.

Contents

Career

Hussainzada was given the FIFA badge in 2025, following a complete renovation of Afghanistan's FIFA list. [1] He has previously overseen matches in non-FIFA competitions, having a recorded career dating only from 2023 in the inaugural edition of the CAFA U-20 Championship in Tajikistan, organized by the Central Asian Football Association, which is a non-affiliated FIFA confederation grouping teams from Central Asia, including Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. [3] He refereed a single match of the tournament (Tajikistan U-20 4–1 Turkmenistan U-20) at the TALCO Arena in Tursunzoda, [4] as well as being a fourth official at the Uzbekistan U-20 3–2 Iran U-20 match. [5]

Previously to be given FIFA recognition, Hussainzada was active in local football, whose top flight is the Afghanistan Champions League. [6] In a June 2025 ceremony, he was promoted to international refereeing, along roster of other FIFA Afghans, including two assistant referees, a futsal referee, and one for beach soccer tournaments. [7] [6] Hussainzada is the only FIFA-listed central referee from Afghanistan as of 2025, with the previous representative Halim Shirzad not appearing on the new list. [1] [2]

Following his FIFA designation, Hussainzada continued to participate in CAFA competitions, including the 2025 CAFA U-17 Championship, where he refereed a single group stage match between Kyrgyzstan U-17 and Iran U-17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. [8] His other match at the tournament was as a fourth (support) referee at the third-place match between Turkmenistan U-17 and Kyrgyzstan U-17. [9]

Selected international record

2023 CAFA U-20 Championship
DateMatchResultVenue
21 May 2023Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan – Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 3–2 TALCO Arena (as fourth official)
24 May 2023Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan – Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan 4–2 TALCO Arena
2025 CAFA U-17 Championship
24 May 2025Flag of Iran.svg  Iran – Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan 3–4 Lokomotiv Stadium
30 May 2025Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan – Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg  Kyrgyzstan 0–0 (7–6)Lokomotiv Stadium (as fourth official)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "International match officials | AFGHANISTAN". Inside FIFA. 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Afghan refs make history after being selected for AFC Cup matches". Ariana News . 23 April 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Referees from Turkmenistan are participating in a CAFA seminar". Orient Turkmenistan News. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Match Report | 2023 CAFA U-20 Championship" (PDF Document). CAFA Champsionship News. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  5. ↑ "UZB U-20 vs. IRN U-20". Sports Global Archives. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Five Afghan referees receive international certification from FIFA". The Kabul Times . 4 June 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  7. ↑ "FIFA Awards Intern'l Certificates to Five Afghan Referees". DID Press News. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "CAFA U-17 Championship 2025 | Match Report" (PDF Document). CAFA News. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  9. ↑ "CAFA U-17 Championship 2025 | Match Report" (PDF Document). CAFA News. 30 May 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
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