ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Ben Williams
Football
Born and raised in Canberra, Ben Williams participated in a referee course at school delivered by Capital Football, taking up the whistle and officiating his first local senior match at the age of 15.
He ascent through the referring ranks was rapid, progressing from local leagues to the national level, named Assistant Referee of the Year in the former National Soccer League (NSL) in 2002.
After 24 NSL matches, Ben was a foundation official in the inaugural year of the newly created
A-League in 2005-06. In total he would referee 161 A-League matches, also having the honour of controlling the 2015 Westfield FFA Cup Final.
As an AFC and FIFA referee, Ben officiated the AFC Champions League and the AFC Asian Cup in 2011 and 2015. At the 2012 London Olympic Games, he officiated the Tournament’s opening match at Old Trafford featuring the host nation, while also taking control at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in 2013. He was named AFC Referee of the Year in 2013.
Refereeing took Ben to all corners of the globe. He refereed various Qualification matches for both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, ultimately earning a place on the referee panel for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He made his debut at this level when Honduras and Ecuador faced off in the Group Stage in Curitiba, his strong performances across the Stage rewarded as he became the first Australian to officiate at the knockout stage in a World Cup, Costa Rica defeating Greece on penalties. He was named as the fourth official for the Quarter Final.
In 2016 Ben retired from refereeing after 22 years on national panels and 12 years as a FIFA referee, leaving the game as one of Australia’s most accomplished football officials.