FIFA: Jim Boyce replaces Angel Maria Villar Llona as head of the referees committee

Northern Irishman Jim Boyce was appointed head of FIFA's (International Federation of Association Football) referees committee, on the 13/08/2013. He replaces Spain's Angel Maria Villar Llona, who was in position since 2002. Jim Boyce and his committee will have to select the referees for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

FIFA is currently setting up 52 trios of referees from 46 different countries for the twentieth World Cup. Each trio is composed of a central referee and two assistant referees, the three of them sharing the same nationality. Some thirty trios will be selected for the competition.

Jim Boyce has been one of FIFA's vice-presidents and executive committee member since June 2011. He previously was also president of Cliftonville FC (Northern Ireland).

Angel Maria Villar Llona remains the chairman of FIFA's Legal Affairs Committee. He is also the chairman of UEFA's (Union of European Football Associations) referees committee.

Members of FIFA's referees committee :

The commission shall implement and interpret the Laws of the Game and may propose amendments to the Executive…