Latest update January 11th, 2025 4:10 AM
Latest News
- Govt, US-Exim Bank sign US$527 million for GTE project
- Rystad Energy issues misleading analysis on Guyana’s share from ExxonMobil contract
- Deaths from Israeli attacks in Gaza undercounted by 41 percent, study finds
- PNC calls for doubling of minimum wage, tax free threshold to be increased to $400,000 monthly
- Pensioner dies at CJIA while waiting to board flight to New York
FIFA Assistant Referee Dion Inniss to hang up his flag after 10 years
Another of Guyana’s outstanding officials, FIFA Assistant Referee Dion Inniss has decided that it is time for
Dion Inniss
him to wave his final flag as an active official. The respectful and always fit official who has earned the respect of all and sundry he has come into contact with locally, regionally and internationally is retiring from the sport after 10 memorable years.
Inniss wrote to the Chairman of the Guyana Football Federation Normalization Committee, Mr. Clinton Urling who is also Chairman of the GFF Referees Committee to inform him of his decision which will take effect at the end of the current GFA/Banks Beer Cup tournament in the city.
As an active Assistant Referee on the FIFA list, Inniss noted that it provided him the opportunity to be an ambassador of his country at the regional and hemispheric levels which was a great honour that he took very seriously.
“Meeting so many people, some very famous and visiting some very beautiful counties are experiences not afforded to many. Being a Referee has also allowed me to inculcate many lifelong skills that would remain with me forever, attributes such as teamwork, tolerance, respect for others, compassion, fairness and justice just to name a few.” Inniss wrote.
He stated that he is still in love with refereeing and will always be, “But the time has come to move on to something else.”
As an Assistant Referee, while his only regret was not officiating at a FIFA event, Inniss officiated at several CFU and CONCACAF tournaments such as the CONCACAF Under -17, Under -20, Olympic Qualifiers (Under- 23) , CONCACAF Champions League , CONCACAF Gold Cup, Caribbean Youth Cups, CFU Under-17, Under-20 , CFU Club Championships, CFU Caribbean Cup, World Cup Qualifying Tournaments Germany 2006, South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014, Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation 100yrs commemorative match Trinidad and Tobago v England, International Friendlies (Country and Club), including Guyana v India and most major national club finals between 2004-2014.
Inniss noted that as with most things in life there have been some not so good moments, but those moments have never deterred him from his commitment to discharge his responsibility with utmost professionalism.
While stating that his wife has been his biggest supporter, Inniss also took the opportunity to thank all those who in some measure supported him throughout the years including his siblings and extended family.
Gratitude was also extended to his colleagues, players, coaches, administrators, instructors, assessors, the media and spectators for the treasured moments over the last decade.
“Permit me also to extend a special word of gratitude to Executives and Staff of the GFF both past and present for having faith in me, to nominate me for ten continuous years and for always being supportive when the need arose.”
The generosity and understanding of Inniss’ employer, Caribbean Airlines was also highlighted by the official who said they understood how important it was to him on many occasions providing him leave or time off to fulfill local and overseas appointments, without which his involvement and exposure would not have been so substantial and prolonged.
While Inniss has been on the FIFA List for 10 years, his career in the sport has been for the past 20 years as a player, referee and administrator which has placed him in good stead to use the experience gained over those years towards the positive advancement of football in Guyana and has promised to avail himself to the Federation to serve in a suitable role.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Dem signs need calibrating
Dem Boys Seh… Kaieteur News- Dem boys bin pass one of dem fancy speed meter signs wah de guvament put up fuh tell drivers... more
Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- It has long been evident that the world’s richest nations, especially those responsible... more
Weekend Cartoon
