12 June 2019 – South African referee Daniel Bennett has decided to hang up his whistle from the international scene, after having served in the FIFA referees’ panel since 2003.
His retirement will take effect on 31 December 2019 moving forward.
However, Bennet (42) hopes to continue serving in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) for years to come.
The two-time PSL Referee of the Season (2000/01 & 2010/11) added that this was not an easy decision for him to make. However, he felt that this was the right time to part ways with officiating on an international level.
“I have greatly enjoyed my time representing SAFA as a FIFA referee since 2003,” Bennett said. “However, the time has come for me to make way for a young and up-and-coming referees who can have the opportunities that I have had on an international scene.
“Retiring from the international scene at the end of the year will allow me to devote more time to my domestic refereeing career and my family as well.”
Bennett also added that he would like to thank the South African Football Association (SAFA) for backing him throughout his refereeing career on an international level, adding that they played a massive part in helping him make memories that he will cherish forever.
“I would like to thank SAFA for having nominated me 17 times to serve in the FIFA refereeing panel and for supporting my international career throughout the years,” Bennett said. “The biggest highlights of my international refereeing career will always be when I was selected to serve in the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament in Brazil, the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup and 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup finals (which both took place in the United Arab Emirates), as well as refereeing 8 CAF finals as well.”
List of International Football Tournaments Daniel Bennett served as a match official in:
2010 AFCON Angola edition, Nigeria vs Ghana (semi-final)
2012 AFCON Gabon edition, Ivory Coast vs Mali (semi-final)
2011 CHAN Sudan edition, Angola vs Tunisia (final)
2013 AFCON South Africa edition
2016 CHAN Rwanda edition, Democratic Republic of Congo vs Mali (final)
2017 AFCON Rwanda edition, Egypt vs. Cameroon (final)
2010 FIFA Club World Cup, United Arab Emirates edition (opening match and 3rd/4th place playoff match)
2013 FIFA U17 World Cup, United Arab Emirates
2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil.
CAF Football Tournament cup final matches Daniel Bennett has officiated in:
2002 CAF Confederation Cup final
2004 CAF Super Cup final
2006 CAF Confederation cup final
2010 CAF Champions League final
2011 CAF Super Cup final