SA: Three leading Australian match officials have been appointed to represent Oceania at the FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in the USA. Referee Tammy Ogston of Brisbane, plus assistant referee's Airlie Keen of Adelaide and Rockhampton based Jacqueline Leleu have earned call-ups to officiate at the flagship event for Women's Soccer.

This tournament will be the second World Cup for Ogston who was also appointed to the previous Women's World Cup, also held in the USA in 1999. Ogston followed that with selection at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and earlier this year controlled her first ever men's international during the South Pacific Games in Fiji. The 33-year-old Ogston, who has been an international referee for 8 years, has also been refereeing regularly in the Brisbane based men's competition for a number of seasons.

Both assistant referees also have several years international experience and have both just returned from a three-nation tournament in Japan, in addition to officiating at the Oceania qualifying tournament held earlier this year in Canberra.

For Keen it will be her second FIFA tournament appearance after officiating at last year's FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in Canada. Keen also recently officiated at the recent Festival Cup, an international U20 men's tournament in Adelaide, whilst Leleu has refereed the last four senior men's Grand Finals in Central Queensland.

A/National Director of Referees, Barry Such, says that the selection further strengthened the fact that there is a definite career path for women referees in Australia. "Referee development in Australia is very strong in what is a growth area of the sport and I am sure the girls will do well," he said.

The FIFA Women's World Cup will be held in six US cities between 20 September and 12 October 2003. The Qantas Matildas will open their campaign on Sunday 21 September against Russia in Los Angeles, followed by China on Thursday 25 September in Los Angeles, then Ghana on Sunday 28 September in Portland.

The Final Draw for the 2003 Women's World Cup, held on 17 July, produced the following groups

Group A - USA, Sweden, Nigeria, DPR Korea

Group B - Norway, France, Brazil, Korea Republic

Group C - Germany, Canada, Japan, Argentina

Group D - China, Ghana, AUSTRALIA, Russia.

The full match schedule is available at www.fifaworldcup.com

USA was named as the new host nation after FIFA moved the event from original host China following the outbreak of the SARS virus. The tournament will be the fourth Women's World Cup, and will be Australia's third consecutive Women's World Cup finals appearance. The Qantas Matildas placed 12th (of twelve nations) in Sweden 1995, and 11th (of sixteen) in USA 1999.

SA: The Qantas Joeys have ended the FIFA U-17 World Championship without securing a point following its 2-0 loos to Costa Rica this morning.

The match saw Australia again have a player sent off (39th minute) in the first half when Matt Hilton (pictured) clipped his Costa Rican opponent and the referee ruled it a straight card. Costa Rica also had a player sent off in the 79th minute for two referee cards.

Overall it was a pretty insipid performance by the players, who could not get themselves up for game after effectively been eliminated in the last match against Nigeria.

Even before Hilton's send off Australia appeared flat and for the match only had three attempts at goal.

Costa Rica broke through for the opening goal in the 62nd minute when they were awarded a penalty after Nigel Boogaard was adjudged to have fouled his opponent in the box. Pablo Rodriguez converted and a place in the next round beckoned.

The second goal Costa Rica needed came in the 74th minute from Alonso Salazar although the same player was sent off five minutes later for his second yellow card offence.

The 2-0 scoreline meant they finished on equal points, equal goal difference and equal goals for with Nigeria and for the first time the drawing of lots was needed to decide the team to go through and Costa Rica was successful.

Australia line up: Nick Crossley (gk); Ben Griffin, Nigel Boogaard, Keegan Wolfenden, Jacob Timpano, Kristian Sarkies (Angelo Martino 54'), Adam Casey, Matt Christensen (Matthew Deegan 74'), Adrian Leijer, Dane Richardson, Matt Hilton

Cautions: Timpano 9', Wolfenden 58', Christensen 68'

Expulsions: Hilton 39'

Auckland, OFC: The Oceania Football Confederation has today confirmed the match schedule and dates for the 2003 OFC World Futsal Qualifying Tournament which will be held in Canberra, Australia.

After the unavailability of the original venue in Sydney, the OFC approved the tournament moving to Canberra. The 2003 OFC World Futsal Qualifying Tournament will be held from 20-25 October 2003 at the Australian Institute of Sport arena in Canberra.

Hosts Australia will compete with Fiji, New Zealand and Vanuatu for the sole qualifying berth, representing the OFC at the FIFA Futsal World Championship 2004 in Chinese Taipei.

The 2003 OFC World Futsal Qualifying Tournament will be held in a double round robin format on a league system over six match days. Under this format, each team will play the other teams twice. The winner will be determined by the team which leads the points tally ladder at the end of the tournament. The match schedule has been enclosed below.

The previous OFC Futsal Qualifying Tournament was held in 1999 in Port Vila, Vanuatu with Australia coming out victors on that occasion.

2003 OFC World Futsal Qualifying Tournament:

Match Schedule

Oct 20 Monday

6pm Fiji vs Vanuatu

8pm Australia vs New Zealand

Oct 21 Tuesday

6pm Vanuatu vs Australia

8pm New Zealand vs Fiji

Oct 22 Wednesday

6pm Fiji vs Australia

8pm Vanuatu vs New Zealand

Oct 23 Thursday

6pm Vanuatu vs Fiji

8pm New Zealand vs Australia

Oct 24 Friday

6pm Fiji vs New Zealand

8pm Australia vs Vanuatu

Oct 25 Saturday

6pm New Zealand vs Vanuatu

8pm Australia vs Fiji

OFC: Fiji referee, Leone Rakaroi, has been called in to replace Tahiti's Charles Ariiotima, who is unavailable to officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Championships in Finland. It will be the first FIFA appointment for Rakaroi, who was last active at the South Pacific Games in Fiji last month.

The 38-year old Rakaroi has been on the FIFA referees list since 2002. Since making the FIFA list, he has also officiated at the 2002 OFC U-16 Tournament in Sydney, 2002 OFC U-19 Women's Qualifiers in Tonga and the 2002 OFC Nations Cup in Auckland.

Accompanying Rakaroi in the official OFC Match Official delegation to Finland are assistant referees, Gray Vuke, of Vanuatu, and Daniel Tauaroa of Tahiti.

The FIFA U-17 World Championship kicks off on Wednesday, 13 August 2003. OFC is represented by Australia in this tournament.

SA RELEASE: The Qantas Matildas have suffered a setback leading up to next month's FIFA Women's World Cup, with defender Thea Slatyer a forced withdrawal through serious knee injury. Karla Reuter, a debutante at senior international level, has been selected as the replacement.

Slatyer was the first from the successful Qantas Young Matildas team which placed fifth at the 2002 FIFA U19 Women's World Championship to be promoted to make her senior international debut. Since making her first appearance last September, Slatyer has gone on to establish herself as a regular member of the squad.

The Sydneysider sustained the untimely knee injury four minutes after coming on as a substitute against South Korea a fortnight ago in Japan. Slatyer, age 20, will undergo an arthroscopy on Monday and is expected to also have reconstruction surgery on her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at the same time.

Reuter, age 19, now becomes the youngest member of the 20-strong World Cup team, and is also a graduate from the 2002 U19 World Championship team. Reuter, who hails from Toowoomba, played every minute of Australia's four matches at the Championship in Canada, and scored a fantastic freekick in the quarterfinal against Brazil.

"Obviously this is a tragedy for Thea and for the team - it's the last thing we needed at this time," said Qantas Matildas Coach Adrian Santrac. "Everyone is saddened with the loss of Thea for the World Cup, and she won't be forgotten within the group as we embark on our campaign. However, the reality is that these things can happen, and it has now created the opportunity for Karla to come in as the replacement. It's a wonderful opportunity for Karla, and I expect she'll perform well when called upon."

The 4th FIFA Women's World Cup - USA 2003 is scheduled for 20 September to 12 October. The Qantas Matildas open their campaign on Sunday 21 September against Russia, followed by China on Thursday 25 September, then Ghana on Sunday 28 September. The Final Draw for the 2003 Women's World Cup produced the following groups -

Group A - USA, Sweden, Nigeria, DPR Korea

Group B - Norway, France, Brazil, Korea Republic

Group C - Germany, Canada, Japan, Argentina

Group D - China, Ghana, AUSTRALIA, Russia.

The full match schedule is available on FIFAworldcup.com at - http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en/t/match/index.html

USA was named as the new host nation after FIFA moved the event from original host China following the outbreak of the SARS virus. USA 2003 will be Australia's third consecutive Women's World Cup finals appearance. The Qantas Matildas placed 12th (of twelve nations) in Sweden 1995, and 11th (of sixteen) in USA 1999.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM - FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP, USA 2003: Updated Team list: 
Players (20):	 Program	Hometown  Pos DOB      Caps 
Dianne ALAGICH	 AIS/San Jose 	Adelaide   D  12/05/79  38
Melissa BARBIERI AIS/VIS	Melbourne  GK 20/01/80	 8
Amy BEATTIE	 AIS/ACTAS	Canberra   GK 08/09/80	 0
Hayley CRAWFORD	 AIS/NSWIS 	Newcastle  F  27/03/84	 6
Rhian DAVIES	 AIS/ACTAS	Sydney	   D  05/01/81  19
Bryony DUUS	 AIS/QAS	Brisbane   M  07/10/77	39
Gill FOSTER	 AIS/ACTAS	Sydney	   M  28/08/76	17
Heather GARRIOCK AIS/QAS	Sydney	   M  21/12/82	37
Kelly GOLEBIOWSKIAIS/Washington	Sydney	   F  26/07/81	55
Pam GRANT	 AIS/QAS	RockhamptonD  15/11/82	 5
Tal KARP	 AIS/ACTAS	Perth	   M  30/12/81	12
Cassandra KELL	 AIS/NSWIS	Cen Coast  GK 08/08/80	 8
April MANN	 AIS/QAS	Brisbane   F  21/04/78	18
Joanne PETERS(V) AIS/New York 	Leeton	   M  11/03/79	49
Karla REUTER	 AIS/QAS	Toowoomba  D  14/06/84	 -
Taryn ROCKALL	 AIS/NSWIS	Sydney	   M  11/11/77	 7
Cheryl SALISBURY(C)AIS/New York	Newcastle  D  08/03/74	85
Danielle SMALL	 AIS/NSWIS	Newcastle  M  07/02/79	18
Sacha WAINWRIGHT(V)AIS/ACTAS	Canberra   D  06/02/72	51
Amy WILSON	 AIS / ACTAS	Canberra   F  09/06/80	37

FIFA.com: All FIFA futsal refs will now be put through the new, rigorous tests. courtesy of Futsalplanet.com

The FIFA Futsal Committee has agreed upon a set of physical performance tests for the game's officials following their latest meeting on 18 October 2002.

The decision was enthusiastically approved following recommendations from both the FIFA Sports Medical Committee and the recently formed FIFA Referees' Committee. The steps represent further indication of futsal's acceptance as a legitimate sporting force in its own right.

For years, FIFA football referees have been put through their paces with a rigid and demanding set of physical tests. Now futsal's men in black are fast falling in line with the harsh demands of modern athletics. In addition to improving the refereeing landscape as a whole, the new futsal fitness tests focus on the specific demands of the lightning-quick indoor game.

A series of tests to set the standard

The comprehensive test consists of four distinct sections with one clear goal: to prepare the officials for the rigours of the five-a-side game, growing more and more popular on Planet Football with each passing day.

The tests, as well as the methods by which they are applied, will become the universal standard for the official physical evaluation of futsal referees in each of FIFA's national associations. They will also become the standard to be applied prior to all official competitions like the FIFA Futsal World Championship Chinese Taipei 2004.

The battery of tests begins with a 1km endurance run. The first section must be completed within four minutes and ten seconds. Next, after a 15-minute rest, comes a shuttle-run, back and forth, between two set points ten metres apart. The referee must complete the exercise within 11 seconds.

Following a short five-minute rest, the official is required to complete a zig-zag course, running forwards, backwards and sideways in under 42 seconds between a carefully placed maze of cones, followed by another five-minute break. Then the ten-metre shuttle run and the zig-zag runs are repeated with a short five-minute break in between.

This Physical Fitness Test will act to form the basis for all future physical fitness tests for futsal referees carried out by national associations. It will also be a mandatory exercise for all referees included on the FIFA List of Referees in 2004.

"We are going to work to improve the standard of refereeing. That is the challenge we face, and that is what I intend to do," said FIFA's recently appointed head of refereeing José María Garcia-Aranda.

COURTESY RELAY: FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003 is just 50 days away as US Soccer and FIFA continue to work behind the scenes to stage the 16-team, 32-match tournament in the USA from Sept 20 to Oct 12 at six soccer venues across the United States. The US was awarded the tournament back on May 26, giving US Soccer just 17 weeks to organize and stage the event.

Tickets for the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003 are moving fast across the U.S., with venues in Los Angeles, Portland and Columbus leading the way for the high-demand tickets. A venue-series ticket consists of all of the matches scheduled at a single FIFA Women's World Cup venue. Fans can purchase venue series tickets, which are priced from $50US to $660 US depending on the venue and number of match days included in the series, online through www.fifaworldcup.com or www.Ticketmaster.com

The limit is eight (8) series tickets per venue and per customer, with the exception of the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, which is limited to six (6) series tickets. Individual match day tickets for doubleheaders at all venues will go on sale at a later date pending availability.

Below is a quick By the Numbers look at the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003, 50 to 1.

FIFA Women's World Cup 2003 - 50 Days and Counting

BY THE NUMBERS

50 - Days until the start of the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003 on Sept. 20, 2003

49 - Goal differential for the U.S. in 15 meetings with FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier Japan (55 for the U.S., 6 against)

48 - Minutes in which it took Michelle Akers to score five goals in the 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup against Chinese Taipei, a tournament record

47 - Goal differential for the U.S. in 14 meetings with FWWC Qualifier Australia (55 for the U.S., 8 against)

46 - Minute of stoppage time in the first half that Bettina Weigmann scored against the U.S. to give Germany a 2-1 lead in the 1999 FWWC quarterfinals (a game won by the U.S. 3-2)

45 - Teams that participated in qualifying play for the 1991 FWWC, compared to 52 in 1995, 81 in 1999 and 99 2003

44 - Combined goals in 17 all-time meetings between the USA and Sweden in advance of their tournament opener on Sept. 21 at RFK Stadium (30 for the U.S., 14 against)

43 - All-time goals the U.S. has scored vs. Sweden, Nigeria and North Korea, their opponents in Group A (compared to 16 against)

42 - U.S. WNT games started by head coach April Heinrichs in earning 47 caps and 37 goals in her playing days

41 - Exact number of goals that the U.S. has scored individually against both China and Germany all-time

40 - Age of New Zealand's Anne Smith, who in 1991 became the oldest player to appear in the FWWC (40 years, 55 days)

39 - Goals by Canada in qualifying for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, to lead all teams (compared to 26 in 2003 qualifying)

38 - Different players to appear on the U.S. roster in the first three FIFA Women's World Cups

37 - Height, in centimetres, of the FIFA Women's World Cup trophy

36 - Total assists recorded by the U.S. during the first three World Cups (on 56 all-time goals)

35 - Total losses by the U.S. all-time vs. teams that have qualified for WWC 2003 (compared to 139 wins and 26 ties)

34 - Goals scored by Japan in group play during Asian qualifying, while allowing zero

33 - Age of oldest player to ever appear in a FIFA Women's World Cup final (Michelle Akers in 1999)

32 - Total number of matches in the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup

31 - Market share of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup final in the United States, which earned an 11.4 rating on ABC (the game was viewed by an estimated 40 million people)

30 - Goals scored by Germany in compiling a perfect 6-0 record in European qualifying (compared to one goal against)

29 - Goals scored by China in group play during Asian qualifying, while allowing zero

28 - Days after the WUSA Founders Cup II in San Diego on Aug. 24 that the USA opens the FIFA Women's World Cup against Sweden at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

27 - Goal differential for the U.S. all-time vs. Group A opponents (43 for the U.S., 16 against)

26 - Matches in the 1991 and 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup, when only 12 teams qualified

25 - Total number of venues selected to host FIFA Women's World Cup matches, including 2003 (PGE Park is the only venue to be chosen twice)

24 - Total number of shots by the U.S. against North Korea in their 1999 meeting (compared to 9 for their opponents)

23 - Days, from start to finish, of the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003 (Sept. 20 to Oct. 12)

22 - Total number of teams to ever qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup

21 - Goals scored by Norway in European qualifying for the World Cup, compared to three against

20 - Overall international players who have played in all three previous FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments

19 - Total number of teams that qualified for at least one of the first three Women's World Cups

18 - Miles from the Los Angeles city center to the Home Depot Center, located just south of L.A. in Carson, Calif.

17 - Goals scored by the U.S. en route to the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup championship

16 - Total number of teams vying for the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003 crown

15 - All-Time wins in the FIFA Women's World Cup by the USA (record)

14 - All-Time wins in the FIFA Women's World Cup by Norway (second best)

13 - Teams returning to the U.S. for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup after playing here in 1999

12 - Years since the first FIFA Women's World Cup was held in China (the 2007 event will be staged there)

11 - FIFA Women's World Cup caps for U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry, who has allowed just goals in those games

10 - Record for most goals in a single FIFA Women's World Cup tournament (by Michelle Akers in 1991)

9 - Total number of yellow cards and red cards for the U.S. in 18 FIFA Women's World Cup games (8 yellows, one red)

8 - Times Japan has been shut out in 10 total FIFA Women's World Cup appearances

7 - Goals by both Sissi (Brazil) and Sun Wen (China) to lead all scorers at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup

6 - Wins that it will take to hoist the FIFA Women's World Cup trophy and the teams in the 2003 field that have never won a FIFA Women's World Cup game

5 - Goals scored by Brandi Chastain in the USA's first-ever FWWC qualifying game, all as a substitute against Mexico on April 18, 1991

4 - Different teams to appear in the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup (China, Norway and the U.S. twice; Germany once)

3 - Teams making their first FIFA Women's World Cup appearance (Argentina, France, South Korea)

2 - Different champions through the first three Women's World Cups (USA-2, Norway-1)

1 - World Champion to be crowned on Oct. 12, 2003 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California

Media release by US Soccer Communications Department.

The latest FIFA ranking for 30 July 2003 saw both Australia and New Zealand tumble out of the top fifty while elsewhere, OFC nations Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Tonga made important gains.

New Zealand is now the highest ranked OFC nation in 60th place with its performance at the recent FIFA Confederations been taken into account.

Australia fell 13 places to 63rd in the biggest drop of all the OFC nations. Australia can improve their ranking with a good result in its next scheduled international against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on 20th August. New Zealand will have to wait till October for its next scheduled international against Iran in Tehran, which will be for the AFC/OFC Challenge Cup.

Fiji made the biggest gain rising 9 places to occupy the 140th position. They will likely rise further up the ranking after recently winning the South Pacific Games football tournament. Vanuatu also continue its surge up the FIFA ranking rising 6 places to 156th position. Their third place at the South Pacific Games will also play in their favour when the next FIFA rankings are released on 27 August.

Papua New Guinea and Tonga are the only other improvers moving up one place to 168th and 182nd respectively. Despite beating Papua New Guinea 5-3 in a recent friendly international held prior to the South Pacific Games in June, the Solomon Islands have still lost ground dropping one place to 151st.

Tahiti retains its position as the top ranked island nation on 126, despite a drop of four places. Samoa concedes ground also dropping 2 places to 170 while Cook Islands and American Samoa remain as they ere on 188 and 202 respectively.

Ranking as of 30 July 2003 
Rank:   Team:		Pts Jul 03/Rank Jun 03/Change Jun 03
60	New Zealand	533		53	   -7	
63	Australia	528		50	  -13	
126	Tahiti		368		122	   -4	
140	Fiji		304		149	    9	
151	Solomon Islands	263		150	   -1	
156	Vanuatu		227		162	    6	
168	PNG		182		169	    1	
170	Samoa		181		168	   -2	
182	Tonga		147		183	    1	
188	Cook Islands	114		188	    0	
202	American Samoa	19		202	    0