Michael Hester
Encyclopedia
Michael Hester is a New Zealand association football referee in the A-League
. Holder of a FIFA international license, he has participated at the highest level, officiating at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
.
certified referee since 2004 and gained his FIFA
international qualification in January 2007. He refereed some games in the 2008 Olympics, and has also refereed matches in the Oceania qualification group
for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
He was also appointed as a referee for the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Cup
in Nigeria.
Hester was included on the short list to officiate at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
in South Africa along with fellow New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary
, both of whom were confirmed in the final 30 officials to take charge at the finals. On 12 June 2010 he refereed the FIFA World Cup
game between Greece and the Korean Republic. Hester called time on his refereeing career at the end of the 2011 New Zealand winter season to focus on his career in the New Zealand Royal Navy.
in Auckland
, and played both Rugby union
and football before turning to officiating.
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
. Holder of a FIFA international license, he has participated at the highest level, officiating at 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...
.
Biography
Hester has been a NZFCNew Zealand Football Championship
The New Zealand Football Championship is the national association football league in New Zealand. It is a professional/semi-professional status Association football sports Franchise league that is operated by New Zealand Football...
certified referee since 2004 and gained his FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
international qualification in January 2007. He refereed some games in the 2008 Olympics, and has also refereed matches in the Oceania qualification group
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC)
The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification for the Oceania Football Confederation selected New Zealand to compete in a two-legged home-and-away playoff against Bahrain, the fifth-place team from the Asian Football Confederation for a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa...
for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
He was also appointed as a referee for the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Cup
2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup was the thirteenth tournament of the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria from October 24 to November 15, 2009.The tournament was won by Switzerland, beating 1-0 the host team, Nigeria...
in Nigeria.
Hester was included on the short list to officiate at 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...
in South Africa along with fellow New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary
Peter O'Leary
Peter O'Leary is a New Zealand Association football referee, previously of Wellington but now residing and working in Whangarei. He operates in the Australian A-League and the New Zealand Football Championship, and his other occupation is as a secondary school biology teacher.-Career:He first took...
, both of whom were confirmed in the final 30 officials to take charge at the finals. On 12 June 2010 he refereed the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
game between Greece and the Korean Republic. Hester called time on his refereeing career at the end of the 2011 New Zealand winter season to focus on his career in the New Zealand Royal Navy.
Personal life
He has worked, besides his football career, as a naval officerOfficer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, and played both Rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and football before turning to officiating.