FIFA member countries are invited annually to nominate male and female officials for association football, futsal and beach soccer.
While officiating matches in the category they have been nominated, the referee is expected to wear the badge.
In 2016, the maximum age limits for the list (45, or 38 for first-time listees) was dropped.
[11][12] FIFA reserves the right to require referees over the age of 45 to undergo additional technical assessments as well as specific medical examinations and fitness testing on a case-by-case basis.
[13] Sarkis Demirdjian was the longest serving FIFA-listed referee, being listed for 20 years and 10 months (September 1962 – July 1983).