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.

Alex King
Full name Alexander George King
Born Queensland, Australia
Other occupation Carpenter
Domestic
Years League Role
2017– A-League Referee
2014–2016 A-League Fourth official
International
Years League Role
2020– FIFA listed Referee

Biography edit

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]

References edit

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