Egypitan army officer Essam Abd El Fatah, regarded as one of the world’s top football referees, never wanted to be a referee as a young man because he regarded referees as unfailingly “unjust” in their decision making – particularly when he was playing.

Now nine years after becoming a referee, the lieutenant colonel in the Egyptian army, who officiated the match between Ghana and the Sudan in September which saw Ghana become the first African qualifier for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, stands at the pinnacle of his football career.

He is the only referee who has officiated at all four stages of the qualifying tournament for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and, in 2006, was on the list of the world’s best 21 referees. He was the only Arabian referee who officiated at the 2006 World Cup.

In an exclusive interview on the eve of the Ghana-Sudan clash, Essam said he turned to refereeing after playing football for several Egyptian clubs.

“I didn’t want to be a referee, but a close friend of mine encouraged me to apply and take the tests that led to me becoming a referee,” Essam said.

“I used to hate referees when I was a player because some of them were unjust,” Essam said.

He summed up his philosophy of refereeing by saying: ”I carefully consider my decision before making a judgment. Being fair and neutral is my priority in dealing with all players.”

He said other qualities demanded by FIFA of its referees was that they protect players and maintain safety while a match is in progress.

Like the Sudanese team, Essam, as a Muslim, refereed the Ghana-Sudan late afternoon match without having eaten since sunrise because it fell during the fasting month of Ramadan.

He said the fasting did not effect his performance in the Ghana-Sudan game because, even when involved in a game outside Ramadan, he rarely eats before a match. “It is part of my routine fitness regime,” he said.

But he believes football authorities should try to take into account the religious sensibilities of nations when scheduling matches. “There are many people who practice fasting. Not only Muslims, but also Christians and some Jews too. So I think it is a good idea for FIFA to consider religious occasions.”

Publication rights to this feature are available from Africa Media Online.