Lencie Fred
Encyclopedia
Lencie Fred is a former international association football referee from Vanuatu
. He was the first referee from his country to be included on the FIFA list of referees. Fred started refereeing at a young age and was named as an assistant referee
for the 1996 Summer Olympics
. He assisted Pierluigi Collina
in the final of that competition between Nigeria
and Argentina
, allowing a controversial late winning goal for Nigeria. Two years later, he was selected to be an assistant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
and officiated five games during the tournament, including the third place match between Netherlands
and Croatia
.
Fred was appointed to the list of FIFA referees in 2000, but was largely inactive during the first part of the decade. He refereed the second leg of the Oceania Preliminary Competition for the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship
, which saw Australia beat New Zealand 6–0. He eventually became one of the most senior referees in the Oceania Football Confederation
, regularly officiating international matches on that continent. He was selected as a referee for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign
, the 2007 South Pacific Games, 2008 OFC Men's Olympic Football Tournament
and the 2008 OFC Nations Cup
. He took charge of his final competitive international match on 19 November 2008 when Fiji
achieved a 2–0 victory over New Zealand in a qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
. Fred retired from international refereeing at the end of 2009, at the age of 41.
Aside from international football, Fred also refereed domestic and continental matches. He regularly officiated matches in the group stages of the OFC Champions League
, and was named as fourth official for both the 2007 and 2008 O-League finals. His last O-League match in charge was the group stage match between Ba
of Fiji and Koloale FC Honiara
of the Solomon Islands on 2 November 2008. In the match, he showed a red card
to one player from each team.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
. He was the first referee from his country to be included on the FIFA list of referees. Fred started refereeing at a young age and was named as an assistant referee
Assistant referee (association football)
In association football, an assistant referee is one of several officials who assist the referee in controlling a match. Two officials, traditionally known as linesmen , stand on the touchlines, while a fourth official assists administrative or other match related tasks as directed by the referee...
for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. He assisted Pierluigi Collina
Pierluigi Collina
Pierluigi Collina is a former Italian football referee. He is still involved in football as non-paid consultant to the Italian Football Referees Association , and is a member of the UEFA Referees Committee...
in the final of that competition between Nigeria
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
and Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
, allowing a controversial late winning goal for Nigeria. Two years later, he was selected to be an assistant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
and officiated five games during the tournament, including the third place match between Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
and Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
.
Fred was appointed to the list of FIFA referees in 2000, but was largely inactive during the first part of the decade. He refereed the second leg of the Oceania Preliminary Competition for the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship
2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The FIFA U-17 World Championship 2001 was held in the cities of Port of Spain, Malabar, Marabella, Couva, and Bacolet in Trinidad and Tobago between 13 September and 30 September 2001. Players born after 1 January 1984 could participate in this tournament...
, which saw Australia beat New Zealand 6–0. He eventually became one of the most senior referees in the Oceania Football Confederation
Oceania Football Confederation
The Oceania Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations of international association football, consisting of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and island nations such as Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific Island countries...
, regularly officiating international matches on that continent. He was selected as a referee for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for Oceania. 12 teams took part, competing for a place in the intercontinental play-off against the fifth-placed team from South America...
, the 2007 South Pacific Games, 2008 OFC Men's Olympic Football Tournament
2008 OFC Men's Olympic Football Tournament
The 2008 OFC Men's Olympic Football Tournament functioned as the qualifying tournament to the association football competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing for the member nations of the Oceania Football Confederation. The tournament consisted of a single round-robin tournament played in...
and the 2008 OFC Nations Cup
2008 OFC Nations Cup
The 2008 OFC Nations Cup was the eighth edition of the OFC Nations Cup, and the first under a new format that was introduced. It took place as a series of as a home-and-away round-robin tournament on FIFA match dates in 2007 and 2008...
. He took charge of his final competitive international match on 19 November 2008 when Fiji
Fiji national football team
The Fiji national football team is the national team of Fiji and is controlled by the Fiji Football Association. Their best finish in the OFC Nations Cup was third in 1998 and 2008.-World Cup record:*1930 to 1978 - Did not enter...
achieved a 2–0 victory over New Zealand in a qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
. Fred retired from international refereeing at the end of 2009, at the age of 41.
Aside from international football, Fred also refereed domestic and continental matches. He regularly officiated matches in the group stages of the OFC Champions League
OFC Champions League
The Oceania Champions League 2007 was held in January 2007 with six clubs from five member associations of the Oceania Football Confederation: New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. The six clubs were split into two groups of three for home and away matches.Auckland City...
, and was named as fourth official for both the 2007 and 2008 O-League finals. His last O-League match in charge was the group stage match between Ba
Ba F.C.
Ba F.C. is a Fijian association football team playing in the premier division of the Fiji Football Association competitions. It is based in Ba. They are nicknamed Men in Black. Their home stadium is Govind Park...
of Fiji and Koloale FC Honiara
Koloale FC Honiara
Koloale FC is a Solomon Islands football clubs, playing in the Honiara FA League and in the Solomon Islands National Club Championship.Koloale FC has been one of the Solomon Islands most successful clubs in recent years, winning the Honiara FA League in 2001, 2003 and 2008; and the Solomon Islands...
of the Solomon Islands on 2 November 2008. In the match, he showed a red card
Penalty card
A penalty card is used in many sports as a means of warning, reprimanding or penalising a player, coach or team official. Penalty cards are most commonly used by referees or umpires to indicate that a player has committed an offense. The referee will hold the card above his or her head while...
to one player from each team.