The FA returned to South America last week, this time to Ecuador, to deliver another Advanced Referees Workshop.
Ray Olivier and Steve Swallow, both Regional Referees Managers, delivered a week-long workshop to almost 150 officials.
The workshop was divided into two parts, the first a three-day course for Elite Referees and the latter being a two-day Match Inspectors course. In total, a mixture of almost 150 Referees, Assistant Referees, Instructors, physical trainers and Match Inspectors took part in the classroom and pitch-based sessions.
Ray Olivier, who led the course and has returned to Ecuador for the fifth time this year, said: "It is a tremendous honour to be invited back again to address both the referees and the match inspectors.
"Exactly three years ago, Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol (FEF) were appointing ‘foreign’ referees from neighbouring countries to officiate in some of their top matches. Since then, following the development and improvement of their match officials, FEF now only appoint Ecuadorian Referees to officiate in all their internal competitions," he continued.
"This is clear recognition that the training and development that The FA have delivered over the past five years has helped to secure this significant milestone."
Steve Swallow added: "It was a great opportunity to be a part of this important programme. All the course participants took full part in both the theory and physical training with great enthusiasm".
The FA is due to visit other countries within CONMEBOL another three times this year delivering courses focusing on the Respect programme, Women’s Football and youth coaching as part of the Memorandum of Understanding between The FA and CONMEBOL which was signed in 2002.
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