Ashraf Hussainzada
| Full name | Mohammad Ashraf Hussainzada[1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Afghanistan | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2024–present | Afghanistan Champions League | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 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.
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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Match | Result | Venue |
| 21 May 2023 | Uzbekistan – Iran | 3–2 | TALCO Arena (as fourth official) |
| 24 May 2023 | Tajikistan – Turkmenistan | 4–2 | TALCO Arena |
| 2025 CAFA U-17 Championship | |||
| 24 May 2025 | Iran – Kyrgyzstan | 3–4 | Lokomotiv Stadium |
| 30 May 2025 | Turkmenistan – Kyrgyzstan | 0–0 (7–6) | Lokomotiv Stadium (as fourth official) |
References
- ^ a b c d e "International match officials | AFGHANISTAN". Inside FIFA. 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Afghan refs make history after being selected for AFC Cup matches". Ariana News. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ "Referees from Turkmenistan are participating in a CAFA seminar". Orient Turkmenistan News. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ "Match Report | 2023 CAFA U-20 Championship" (PDF Document). CAFA Champsionship News. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ "UZB U-20 vs. IRN U-20". Sports Global Archives. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Five Afghan referees receive international certification from FIFA". The Kabul Times. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ "FIFA Awards Intern'l Certificates to Five Afghan Referees". DID Press News. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ "CAFA U-17 Championship 2025 | Match Report" (PDF Document). CAFA News. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ "CAFA U-17 Championship 2025 | Match Report" (PDF Document). CAFA News. 30 May 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.