Cayman Islands Football Association CIFA Refereeing Department Report August 2024 - July 2025

Introduction

This report provides a summary of administrative and development activities of the CIFA Refereeing Department for the period August 2024 - July 2025.

Administrative

Prior to the commencement of the 2024 – 2025 football season, a meeting was convened with the referees and CIFA President Alfredo Whittaker, to discuss the proposed plans for the new season. Also, in attendance at the meeting was CIFA General Secretary Marcos Tinoco and CIFA Referee Committee Chairman Peterkin Berry. The main focus for the new season was improving the standard of officiating in all aspect. The Cayman Islands Football Association currently has 50 male, and 10 female registered active referees. The 2024 – 2025 football season (Senior Games) were officiated by 15 referees and 30 assistant referees.

FIFA Referee Kedeen Foster, Assistant Referees Kedlee Powell, Deean Foster and Dwight Cummings were all re-appointed by FIFA to the International Panel of match officials for 2025. Jonathon Hughes and Micheal Akangou were appointed by FIFA to the International Panel of match officials as new referees for 2025. Benjamin Whitty was reappointed by FIFA as VAR for 2025. Cayman Islands representation at the international level currently stands at six (6) match officials until 31st December 2025.

CIFA President Alfredo Whittaker and CIFA’s Football Executives are indeed proud of this accomplishment. Since 2017, when Alfredo Whittaker took over as President of the Member Association, he has been working assiduously with the CIFA Refereeing Department to focus on the development of young and talented referees to advance to the international level.

Training and Development

The key objectives of the CIFA Refereeing Department for the reporting period were as follows: -

a) To improve the quality of refereeing in the Cayman Islands

b) To improve the fitness level of the local referees

c) To focus on quality recruiting and developing younger referees

d) To improve the standard of Referee Assessors to fully understand their role

In keeping with the development concepts of FIFA and the CONCACAF Refereeing Departments, CIFA’s main goals are to improve the quality of refereeing in the Cayman Islands and focus on succession planning by recruiting and developing younger referees to meet the demands of the modern game.

Summary of Activities

• Referee Beginners Courses in Grand Cayman – 2 courses

• Refresher Seminar for Senior Referees – Grand Cayman

• FIFA MA Referee Course (RAP)– November 2024

• Practical Field Sessions – 68 sessions

• Fitness Test – 2 track tests and 2 field tests

• Referee Assessment – 105 assessments for Senior Leagues

Youth Referees

CIFA Youth Referees continue to officiate in the CUC Primary School Leagues, CIFA U11s and some U13s games.

International Appointments for Cayman FIFA Referees

FIFA match officials were appointed to various games and tournaments under the auspices of FIFA, CONCACAF and CFU for the reporting period.

1. Jonathon Hughes: – 5 appointments

a. Aug 2024 – CFU U14 – Trinidad

b. Jan 2025 – First Year FIFA Seminar – Costa Rica

c. Feb 2025 – U17 WCQ – Bermuda

d. June 2025 – World Cup Qualifier – Trinidad

e. Aug 2025 – Concacaf U15 Boy’s Championship – Curacao.

2. Micheal Akangou: – 5 appointments

a. Sep 2024 – Concacaf Nations League – CAY vs BVI – Cayman Islands

b. Oct 2024 – Concacaf Nations League – BAH vs USVI – Barbados

c. Oct 2024 – Concacaf Nations League – BAR vs BAH – Barbados

d. Aug 2025 – CFU Club Shield – Transvaal vs Wolves FC – Trinidad

e. Aug 2025 – CFU Club Shield – AS Etoile De Matoury vs Paradise FC – Trinidad

3. Kedeen Foster: – 5 appointments

a. Aug 2024 – Concacaf Girl’s U15 Championship – Dom Republic

b. Jan 2025 – Concacaf Women’s U17 Championship – Mexico

c. March 2025 – CFU/FIFA Women’s Referee Course – Antigua

d. May/Jun 2025 – Concacaf Women’s U20 Championship – Costa Rica

e. March 2025 – CFU U14 Challenge Series – Trinidad

4. Kedlee Powell: – 8 appointments

a. Aug 2024 – Caribbean Cup – Dominican Republic

b. Sept 2024 – Caribbean Cup – Dominican Republic

c. Sept 2024 - Concacaf Nations League – BER vs DOM REP – Antigua

d. Sept 2024 - Concacaf Nations League – ANT vs BER – Antigua

e. Oct 2024 – Concacaf Nations League – BAH vs USVI – Barbados

f. Oct 2025 – Concacaf Nations League – BAR vs BAH – Barbados

g. Feb 2025 – U17 WCQ in Costa Rica

h. Aug 2025 – Caribbean Cup – Dominican Republic

5. Dwight Cummings: – 7 appointments

a. Sept 2024 - Concacaf Nations League – ANT vs BER – Antigua

b. Oct 2024 – Concacaf Nations League – BAH vs USVI – Barbados

c. Oct 2024 – Concacaf Nations League – BAR vs BAH – Barbados

d. Feb 2025 – U17 WCQ in Bermuda

e. Jun 2025 – International Friendly – MEX vs SWITZERLAND - USA

f. Aug 2025 – CFU Club Shield – Trinidad

g. Aug 2025 – Caribbean Cup – Dominican Republic

6. Benjamin Whitty (VAR) – 20 Appointments

a. Aug 2024 – Caribbean Cup – Dominican Republic

b. Sep 2024 – Nations League – Guadeloupe

c. Sep 2024 – Caribbean Cup – Dominican Republic

d. Sep 2024 – Champions Cup Final – Dallas, TX, USA

e. Oct 2024 – Caribbean Cup – Jamaica

f. Oct 2024 – Nations League – Barbados

g. Oct 2024 – Caribbean Cup Semi Final – Miami, FL, USA

h. Oct 2024 – Central America Cup Semi Final – Miami, FL, USA

i. Nov 2024 – Nations League Quarter Final – Suriname

j. Dec 2024 – Caribbean Cup Final – Miami, FL, USA

k. Jan 2025 – Winter Refereeing Seminar – Costa Rica

l. Feb 2025 – Champions Cup – Miami, FL, USA

m. Feb 2025 – FIFA VMO Seminar – Costa Rica

n. Mar 2025 – Champions Cup Round of 16 – Miami, FL, USA

o. Mar 2025 – Nations League Finals – Los Angeles, CA, USA

p. Mar 2025 – Champions Cup 4er Final – Miami, FL, USA

q. May 2025 – U20 Women Championship – Miami, FL, USA

r. Jun 2025 – Summer Seminar – Dallas, TX, USA

s. Jun 2025 – Gold Cup – Miami, FL, USA

t. Jul 2025 – Leagues Cup – Dallas, TX, USA

Conclusion

The CIFA Refereeing Department is certainly committed to training and development of our local referees in all aspects of the game. The key focus for the reporting period aimed particularly at improving refereeing standards in the Cayman Islands. While we continue to encounter various challenges with match management situations and consistency, most of our key objectives were indeed achieved for the reporting period.