Alex King (referee) explained

Full Name:Alexander George King
League1:A-League
Role1:Referee
Years1:2017–
Confederation1:FIFA listed
Internationalrole1:Referee
Internationalyears1:2020–
Role2:Fourth official
League2:A-League
Years2:2014–2016
Otheroccupation:Carpenter
Birth Place:Queensland, Australia

Alexander George King[1] is an Australian association football referee. He is a full-time referee on the A-League since 2019 and has been an international FIFA referee since 2020.

Biography

Born in Queensland, where he attended Bribie Island State High School, King began refereeing at the age of 13.[2] [3]

King became a fourth official in the A-League in 2014, and the following year he made his debut as a referee in the league by replacing the injured Alan Milliner in the last ten minutes of the match between Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory.[4] He was selected as one of the league's 13 referees for the 2017–18 season.[2]

In September 2019, King was named as one of Football Australia's three full-time referees alongside Chris Beath and Shaun Evans, replacing Jarred Gillett who had moved to England; he had previously worked as a carpenter.[5] At the turn of the year, he was added to the FIFA International Referees List as one of five Australian male referees.[6]

King was appointed to the 2022 AFC Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as AVAR2,[7] and was awarded Referee of the Year for the 2021–22 A-League Men season.[8] On 17 December 2022, he was the referee in a Melbourne Derby between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City, when Victory fans stormed the pitch. He and City goalkeeper Tom Glover received head injuries by being struck with a metal bucket.[9]

King was part of the Asian Football Confederation Referee Academy from 2018 to 2022, and was selected to officiate at the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, he was appointed to a single match between Turkmenistan and Iran.[10] He was also selected to officiate at the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup and was appointed a single match between Kuwait and Malaysia. [11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Project Future Referees complete Fukuoka stint . 25 March 2014. 19 December 2022. Asian Football Confederation.
  2. News: Threadingham . Tom . King to enforce rules of A-League . 17 December 2022 . . 12 September 2017.
  3. News: Smith . Eric . Ex-Bribie Island student who started refereeing for pocket money is now on Australia's A list . 17 December 2022 . The Courier-Mail . 1 October 2017.
  4. News: Video: Referee Alan Milliner subbed off with hamstring injury during Wellington, Melbourne clash . 17 December 2022 . . 5 December 2015.
  5. News: Queenslander Alex King appointed as full time FFA referee . 17 December 2022 . . 3 September 2019.
  6. News: Australian Referees on the FIFA Panel of International Referees for 2020 . 17 December 2022 . Football Australia . 31 December 2019.
  7. News: All-Australian match official team chosen for AFC Cup 2022 Final . 17 December 2022 . Football Australia . 21 October 2022.
  8. News: Lewis . Samantha . Fiona Worts and Jake Brimmer take out A-Leagues' top gongs at 2021/22 Dolan Warren Awards . 17 December 2022 . . 25 May 2022.
  9. News: Harrington . Anna . Pitch invasion stops A-League Men derby . 17 December 2022 . . 17 December 2022.
  10. News: AFC Referee Academy graduates receive first competition call-up . 17 December 2022 . Asian Football Confederation. 4 June 2022.
  11. Web site: AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Match Officials MD3 Group D . 1 May 2024.