Mauritius might not have qualified for the FIFA World Cup in Russia but our island nation does have a representative there. Former Mauritian referee Alain Lim Kee Cheong is acting as referee assessor for the FIFA at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Lim Kee Cheong was on duty at the group D fixture on Monday between Sweden and South Korea, won 1-0 by the former. The match was refereed by Salvadoran referee Joel Aguilar, assisted by fellow countryman Juan Zumba, Costa Rican Juan Carlos Mora, New Caledonian Bertrand Brial, Tahitian Norbert Hauata and American Tom King. Lim Kee Cheong’s next assignment involves assessing the group D game between Argentina and Croatia today.

With over 23 years of refereeing at the highest level, Lim Kee Cheong is a highly experienced former referee. He officiated at five African Cup of Nations (AfCON), in Senegal, Tunisia, South Africa, Burkina Faso and Mali from 1992 to 2002, the most by a Mauritian referee. He is also the only Mauritian referee to have officiated at a World Cup: in the US in 1994 where he took charge of Brazil’s 2-0 win over Russia, and in France in 1998, where he oversaw Colombia’s 1-0 defeat to Romania.

In December 2005, Lim Kee Cheong retired from refereeing, having reached the age limit of 45. However he switched to referee assessing, and, in March 2011, was appointed Confederation of African Football (CAF)/FIFA technical instructor.

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