Boyce to head World Cup referees selection panel

FIFA has appointed Vice President Jim Boyce to chair its referees committee, which chooses match officials for World Cup duty in Brazil.

Northern Ireland official Boyce replaces another FIFA Vice President Angel Maria Villar, who oversaw training and selection of referees for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

FIFA is currently preparing 52 refereeing teams for the World Cup. It typically selects 30 for the tournament.

FIFA says Boyce was appointed in a reshuffle giving each of the 27 executive board members leadership of one standing committee.

Boyce previously chaired the organising panel of the Under-0 World Cup, played in Turkey last month.

FIFA says Villar, a lawyer and former Spain international, “agreed with a FIFA proposal” that he continue to lead FIFA’s legal committee.