FIFA Museum Spotlights Elite Referee Alireza Faghani in ‘Innovation in Action’ Exhibition

The FIFA Museum has unveiled a unique highlight in its ongoing special exhibition Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch—a dedicated display featuring match equipment used by FIFA Elite Referee Alireza Faghani during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.

The exhibition, which runs until 31 March 2026, examines how technological advances are reshaping every aspect of the game.

A major focus is placed on referees, whose tools have evolved from the simple whistle-and-notebook kit to sophisticated systems that enhance communication, accuracy, and fairness on the pitch.

Faghani’s career serves as a central narrative thread within this theme. The 47-year-old referee, who relocated from Iran to Australia in 2019 for family reasons, has become one of world football’s most respected match officials.

Alireza Faghani equipment during the Club World Cup, now showcased partially in the exhibition at the FIFA Museum and it illustrates the link between human expertise and technological progress. Each piece reflects the pressures of elite refereeing: instantaneous communication, precision under scrutiny and the responsibility to apply technology without losing the human focus of the sport.

Since earning his FIFA badge in 2008, he has overseen major fixtures including the AFC Champions League, the AFC Asian Cup final in 2015, and the men’s football final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games—achievements that earned him the Asian Referee of the Year award twice.

His rise has coincided with a period of rapid technological evolution in refereeing. By the time he officiated matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ and the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, tools such as referee communication systems, advanced positioning technology, and enhanced monitoring systems had become an integral part of the job. Mastering these innovations required new routines, sharper coordination, and a deeper understanding of the game’s tempo.

“Despite all the innovations in our equipment, we must be physically and mentally prepared for big games,” Faghani noted, underscoring the balance between technology and human readiness.

Since 2023, Faghani has represented Australia on the international refereeing stage. His equipment from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™—where he and his team handled the opening match, two group games, a quarter-final, and the final between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea FC—forms part of the exhibition.

The FIFA Museum’s special exhibition Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch is still ongoing.

The items offer visitors a close-up look at the demands of elite officiating: instant communication, pinpoint precision, and the delicate task of applying technology without compromising the human essence of the sport.

By combining Faghani’s career journey with the story of refereeing innovation, the exhibition highlights a defining truth of modern football: technology continues to evolve, referees continue to adapt, and the game advances through their combined progress.

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