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

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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

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  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.