After refereeing at the just-ended Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, South African referee Victor Gomes announced his retirement from football.
“The dream started when I was only a child. Now that I have achieved the World Cup, I’m grateful and ready to spend time with my family. The 8-hour flight was enough for me to make the decision to retire. We discussed this with my wife,” he said on Marawa Sports Worldwide show.
“I believe I have been better than those who have come before me and I want others to come and also do better than me. Football is in my blood, I will leave the field but I will still contribute towards lifting the SA’s (South Africa) flag high.”
Gomes was one of the officials who represented Africa at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He presided over two group-stage matches, the first of which saw France defeat Australia 4-1 and the second of which saw Spain fall to Japan 2-1.
He was also designated as the fourth official in Argentina’s quarterfinal victory over the Netherlands on penalties.
The 40-year-old made his Premier Soccer League debut in 2008. He was voted PSL Referee of the Season in 2012/13 and 2017/18 and has been an international referee since 2011.
His last local game in the South African League was the Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in October this year.
