Canada Soccer adds Five Referees to the National Referees List for 2023

Canada Soccer has added two referees and three assistant referees to the National Referee List for 2023 bringing the total number of National List match officials to 44.

Newly added to the National List are; Prem Gundarah, Michael Hood, Michael Venne, Renzo Villanueva and Sangmuk Choi each of whom have graduated from the Canada Soccer NextGen Program for the 2023 season. Members of the NextGEN list are eligible for appointment to professional Canadian competitions including the Canadian Premier League and the Canadian Championship.

Silviu Petrescu who has been on the National Referee List for 22 years from 2001-2022 and Juan Marquez (2015-2022) have retired as National List match officials for 2023.

“Canada Soccer’s National List of Referees and Assistant Referees is represented by the top match officials in Canada,” said Isaac Raymond, Canada Soccer Referee Department Manager. “It is no small feat to achieve this level and requires commitment, dedication and high technical skills. Canada Soccer’s Referee Committee annually reviews the National List and has identified these 5 talented match officials as meeting the standards required to join the 2023 list.”

Canada Soccer is responsible for the development and training of match officials for amateur and professional competitions in Canada. In partnership with our Provincial and Territorial Associations and sanctioned professional leagues, Canada Soccer provides development and training opportunities to advance to the national list of referees and nominations to the FIFA list.

Canada Soccer 2023 NextGen graduates: