Officials feature
A total of 40 International Technical Officials (ITOs) will oversee the IFAF World Flag Football Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany with 22 nations represented and perfect gender parity among the 40 ITOs selected. This sets a new benchmark for female ITOs at an IFAF event as IFAF works towards a commitment to ensure an equal number of male and female officials for flag football’s debut appearance at the Olympic Games in LA28.
The ITOs will be dressed in vibrant, new-look Nike uniforms for these championships
The IFAF officials for Düsseldorf were selected from nominations made by IFAF member federations worldwide. Most have experience at IFAF world and continental tournaments and at The World Games.
The nations that will be represented are Argentina, Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United States.
Allan Kotliar, Argentina
Alan began his officiating career in 2005 in Argentina, where he played, coached, and officiated both tackle and flag football for more than a decade. Since 2016, he has continued coaching and officiating in Mexico while serving as the rules contact for the Argentine federation. His international experience includes officiating the women’s bronze medal game at the 2016 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Miami and the men’s gold medal games at The World Games in 2022 in Alabama and the IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti in 2024. He also served as the Lead ITO for the IFAF Americas Continental Championships in Charlotte (2023) and Panamá (2025).
“Being selected to officiate at the IFAF World Flag Football Championships 2026 is a tremendous honor. It represents years of dedication to the sport across different roles and regions, and I am excited to contribute to the highest level of international competition in Düsseldorf. Sports are a great unifier, and football specifically brings teamwork to the forefront, fostering communication and empathy as a way of life.”
Gregor Slavik, Austria
Since beginning his officiating career in Austrian Flag Football in 2018, Gregor has officiated at both youth and adult levels. Nationally, he has been appointed to the Austrian Men’s and Women’s National Championship Games every year from 2020 to 2026. On the international stage, he served on the officiating crews for the Men’s Bronze Medal Games at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships 2024 in Lahti, Finland, and the IFAF European Championships 2025 in Paris, France.
“It is a tremendous honor and privilege to be part of the ITO crew at IFAF World Flag 2026. Helping to create a safe, fair, and competitive environment for players, coaches, and fans at the highest level of Flag Football fills me with both pride and humility. I am truly looking forward to an exciting and memorable tournament.”
Nathan Cope, Australia
Nathan has been officiating for 15 years and was selected for the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti and the 2025 World Games in Chengdu.
“Being chosen to officiate at the 2026 World Championships in Düsseldorf alongside some of the finest officials in the world is a tremendous honour. It represents the culmination of a lifelong obsession, years of hard work, growth, passion and dedication poured into this sport that I love, and I’m grateful for every step of the journey.”
Pamela Tuft, Australia
Pamela has been officiating American Football since 2017 and has been involved in both on-field and administrative roles working on officiating development in Australia. She is an experienced international crew chief for the Asia Oceania region. Her prior IFAF ITO appointments include the 2022 Women’s Tackle World Championship, the 2023 & 2025 IFAF Asia-Oceania Flag Football Continental Championship, and the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships.
“It’s been an exciting few years for flag football globally and I’m extremely honoured to be entrusted as an official for the first LA28 qualification event.”
Ana Luiza Cazarin de Brito, Brazil
Ana represented Brazil at the 2016 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in the United States as a player and then retired to become the offensive coordinator of her national team at the 2021 tournament in Israel and at The World Games in 2022. She led Brazil at the 2024 IFAF World Championships in Finland as head coach then a year later made the switch to officiating. Ana made her officiating debut at the IFAF Americas continental championships in Panama last year and then returned for the ODESUR youth games in April 2026. She believes prior her experience on the field is a definite advantage and has discovered that the different elements of the sport all have their own nuances.
“It helps a lot because I can understand what the offense or defense are trying to do, so I can predict what the players are going to do. It isn’t easier to be an athlete, but it is more natural because you just go out on the field and play. In coaching there is more preparation and more pressure and you’re not on the field. You can only watch and coach. Officiating I really like. I just like to be part of the game and still be here on the inside. I love everything about flag football.”
Giane Amorim Branco Pessoa, Brazil
Giane Pessoa is a Brazilian flag football official with experience at national and international levels, including all IFAF World Championships since 2016 and both editions of The World Games when flag football has been played. Beyond on-field officiating, she is actively involved in referee education and development for Brazilian Federation, currently serving as Coordinator of Flag Football Officials in South Brazil. Professionally, she works as a Data Scientist and AI specialist, bringing an analytical approach to officiating and game management.
“Being selected for my fifth IFAF World Championship means a great deal to me. It represents years of dedication, hard work, and commitment to flag football throughout my officiating career. I’m incredibly excited to be part of another World Championship and hopeful that this opportunity brings me one step closer to earning a place at the Olympic Games. Every international event is special, but this one feels particularly meaningful as a reflection of the journey that brought me here.”
Scott Woloshin, Canada
Scott has been officiating flag football since 2010, quickly earning invitations to Canadian national tournaments and, in 2018, the IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Panama where he served as Field Judge for the Men’s Gold Medal game. He returned to Panama in 2025 as an International Technical Official (ITO) for another highly successful tournament, followed by his selection as Referee for the 2026 Fanatics Flag Football Showcase in Los Angeles featuring NFL and celebrity players. Off the field, Scott lives and breathes officiating, spearheading development across Canada by creating the national curriculum, training and evaluation guidelines, and advancement pathways.
“Being selected to officiate at another World Championship is an unbelievable feeling. It has been eight years since I last stepped onto the world stage, and I am ready to showcase the growth and experience I’ve gained in that time.”
Catherine Piche, Canada
Catherine Piché is an experienced flag football referee who has officiated more than 500 competitive games since 2018, progressing to national championship finals as a Head Referee and earning international appointments with Football Canada and IFAF.
A former Team Canada athlete and multiple-time world medalist, she brings elite-level insight to her officiating, including key assignments at continental championships and high-stakes matches involving top national teams.
“Being selected to officiate at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships represents the completion of a full circle in the sport, from player to referee at the highest international level.”
Tianyu Xing (Terry Xing), China
Terry has officiated hundreds of Flag Football games since 2012 including 2025 World Games and Asia-Oceania Championships finals.
“As a referee, athlete, and commentator, I have always been sparing no effort to showcase the charm of flag football to the world, and the World Championships are the perfect stage I have been looking forward to.”
Neo Wei Di, China
Neo is a Level 1 flag football referee from China who began officiating in 2020 and officiated the finals of the 2025 IFAF Asia-Oceania Championship, The World Games in 2025 and many other international events. He has also served as head referee for dozens of major tournaments across Asia.
“I feel greatly honored to be selected for this IFAF World Championship and to learn and cooperate with international officials. This recognition fully proves our efforts in recent years are acknowledged globally, and I will showcase the professionalism of Chinese referees to the world.”
Filip Malý, Czechia
Filip has been part of the flag football community since 2010 and started officiating in 2012 and worked at his first international tournament in 2016.
“Being on another big IFAF tournament is for me both an honor and big responsibility to show that I can still officiate on the highest level and provide the teams required service. My biggest desire is to be humble enough not to take the spotlight and smooth enough the team would recognise me as part of the tournament.”
Claes Scherwin Thalmann, Denmark
Claes has officiated flag football since 2006 and Düsseldorf will be his seventh IFAF Flag Football World Championships since his international debut in 2012. He has officiated finals, supervised at the European Championship in 2017 and created the Flag Football Officiating Clinic at the Copenhagen Bowl.
“I am looking forward to be around the best in the sport and develop further as official so I hopefully can officiate in LA28.”
Daniel Barrera Madsen, Denmark
Daniel officiated his first IFAF Flag Football World Championships in 2012. He has officiated 11 IFAF flag football European and World Championships in total, including 10 gold medal games. He also officiated at The World Games 2025 where he was the referee in the gold medal game between USA and Mexico.
“I am more thrilled than ever to be part of this championship, as the interest for flag football worldwide is skyrocketing, and I want to help showcase how great a sport flag football is.”
Magnus Lauesgaard, Denmark
Magnus has officiated flag football since 2004 in Denmark and since 2006 at international tournaments including five IFAF Flag Football World Championships and four IFAF European Championships.
“The IFAF Flag Football World Championship is very close to my heart, as my international officiating began with the 2008 IFAF WC in Montreal. Having had the honor of organising and supervising officials at three IFAF Flag Football World Championships in the 2010s, I consider the World Championships to be synonymous with my own officiating career. Being back at the highest level of IFAF officiating means more to me personally than I can put into words. Can’t wait to experience all the different playstyles and cultures in the game we love!”
Marko Immonen, Finland
Samantha Jousselin, France
Samantha began to play flag football 13 years ago and began to officiate four years ago
She has officiated across Europe and has developed her technics through experience and discussions with coaches, players.
“My mentors have been a real source of support; without them, I wouldn’t be here today. I’m working towards my plan to go to the USA for the Olympic Games.”
Cédric Castaing, France
Cedric has been an official for 30 years. In 2016, his involvement as a flag football official was recognized by the French Federation with a nomination as national coordinator for flag football officials and head official. The following year he earned the grade of International flag football official and has since officiated at the IFAF European championships, the World Games in 2022 and IFAF Flag Football World Championships.
“Being a part of the IFAF journey which led to the historical debut of Flag football at the Olympics in 2028 is a blessing. I wish to continue sharing my experiences with my fellow officials around the world and I will give my best for this IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Dusseldorf to help the players reach their goals and feel safe on the field so they can give their best for the fans and their teams.”
Nicole Debowski, Germany
Nicole started officiating youth tournaments in 2019 and senior leagues in 2023. Since then she has officiated in various leagues and in national and international tournaments in Europe. Her highlights so far were the IFAF Youth European Championships in Serbia and Austria as well as the German Finals last year.
“I feel honored to be selected to officiate at the World Championship, especially because doing so in one’s home country is a once in a lifetime experience. I’m looking forward to great games and the opportunity to learn from and connect with colleagues from all over the world.”
Pascal Marc Filipiak, Germany
Pascal Filipiak is a German American football and flag football official with extensive experience at national and international levels. He has been actively involved in officiating education, serving as both a member and Head of the German Flag Football Officials Teaching Committee. Throughout his career, he has officiated championship games and major tournaments, including the German Finals, the 2025 IFAF European Championship in Paris. In addition to on-field officiating, he regularly supervises and mentors officials, contributing to the development of the sport in Germany.
“Being selected as an official for a World Championship in the neighboring city is a special honor for me. I am sure it will be a great experience, and I am very much looking forward to seeing many of my fellow officials and friends from around the world again, as well as meeting new officials for the first time. Events like this provide a valuable opportunity to gain experience, exchange knowledge, and continue developing both professionally and personally.”
Mara Steiner, Germany
Mara has been officiating football since 2014 and has several years of experience at the international flag football level. Her international assignments include multiple IFAF European Championships, the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Finland, and the 2025 World Games in China, including appointments to championship and medal games. She is actively involved in the education and development of officials in Germany, serving as Chair of the German Flag Football Officials Teaching Commission.
“Every international assignment is special, but being selected for a World Championship in my home country makes this event especially meaningful. I am proud to be part of the officiating team and help deliver a world-class tournament.”
Jed Brookes-Lewis, Great Britain
Jed has been officiating flag football for 15 years. His first IFAF tournament was the European Championships in 2015, and since then, he has travelled all over the world. The highlight of his career is officiating the gold medal game at The World Games in Chengdu last year.
“I’m so honoured that IFAF have put their trust in me to officiate at the upcoming world championships. This is such an important tournament for the sport in the lead up to the Olympics, and I’m working hard to help ensure I give the athletes the best possible experience on the field.”
Carla Carolina Nico Gavazza, Ireland
Carla has been officiating American football for the past 13 years and flag football for the last five years.
“It is so exciting and also inspiring to be able to represent a nation, serving in an Olympic sport where we can be opening the way for players and coaches to strive being their best in a competitive sport.”
Omer Sela, Israel
Omer has been officiating football since 2007 and has worked the past two IFAF Flag Football World Championships and was selected to the final games in Jerusalem and Finland. He officiated at two IFAF European championships and was selected to the final games in Jerusalem and Ireland. He has supervised officials at three IFAF European adult and youth tournaments. He has created and is leading the IFAF games supervising crew that reviews IFAF games in order to mentor and improve officials worldwide and set a standard bar of rule knowledge and mechanics.
“Being selected to the world championship means the world to me. I’ve been working very hard for many years in an objective to be one of the best flag football officials in the world. Being selected to this small and special group is a dream being fulfilled for me. I am very excited for the opportunity.”
Shalechet Eliyahu, Israel
Shalechet has been officiating tackle for 14 years and started internationally after watching the world championship that was hosted in Jerusalem in 2021. Since then she has officiated at four international campaigns, including the IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Finland in 2024 Euro Flag 2025 in Paris.
“Being selected to officiate in the world championship in Dusseldorf is by far the highest honor I could possibly receive in this field, it is both humbling and rewarding to have a chance to be with the absolute best on the planet.”
Riccardo Zampedri, Italy
With more than a decade of experience at the highest level of international flag football, Riccardo’s officiating career includes three IFAF Flag Football World Championships (2014, 2016, 2024), four IFAF European Championships (2013, 2015, 2019, 2025), as well as the 2025 IFAF Africa Flag championships and the 2025 World Games, with several as a Referee and Field Judge.
“Being selected for the IFAF World Flag 2026 is a new chapter in a journey of constant growth for me. The community of officials is getting bigger and better every year, and it’s always great to meet old and new faces from almost the entire world. What better stage than the most important flag football tournament ever played?”
Francesca Moretti, Italy
Francesca’s background in flag football spans both sides of the ball, having experience the sport as a player before transitioning into officiating at the national and international levels. She has officiated the Italian Men’s, Women’s and Junior Championships, and was selected for the U15 Mixed Gold Medal Game at the 2025 IFAF European Youth Championship in Innsbruck. In addition to flag football, she also officiates tackle football.
“Being selected for IFAF World Flag 2026 is a great honor and another important milestone in my officiating journey. It represents recognition of the hard work and dedication I have put into officiating. It is an incredible opportunity not only to officiate at the highest level of flag football, but also to challenge myself, continue growing as an official, and gain valuable experience alongside some of the best referees in the world.”
Lucrezia Cian, Italy
Lucrezia has been a flag football and tackle football referee since 2019 and was selected for two IFAF European Youth Championships in 2021 and 2023, as well as the IFAF Flag Football World Championships in 2021.
“Being selected for this opportunity is a great honor for me, as it allows me to continue developing my skills by learning from some of the best flag football officials in the world and to contribute to one of the most important chapters in the history of our sport.”
Paulina Ivonne Orozco Quintana, Mexico
Paulina Ivonne has five years of refereeing experience. She was the IFAF Flag Football World Championships referee in Finland 2024 and has officiated at more than 15 national tournaments.
“Being selected to officiate at the IFAF World Flag 2026 is a great opportunity for professional development and learning, a unique experience to meet and interact with people from different parts of the world who share the same passion for flag football.”
Paul Brownd, New Zealand
Paul has been officiating flag football since 2018 and has worked at major IFAF events including The World Games 2022 (Birmingham), Asia-Oceania Championships 2023 (Kuala Lumpur), IFAF Flag Football World Championships 2024 (Lahti), and Asia-Oceania Championships 2025 (Ningbo). He has delivered officials’ clinics across 16 nations, helping develop more than 100 officials throughout the Asia-Oceania region. A member of the IFAF Global Rules Committee, Paul is passionate about growing the game and supporting its future development.
Donald McMillan, New Zealand
Magda Szymko, Poland
Magda’s officiating career began six years ago in both tackle and flag football, with a flag football tournament marking her very first assignment on the field. Since then she has progressed to the international stage, officiating at major events such as the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland, and The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China.
“Being selected to officiate a Flag Football World Championship is more than an achievement—it is a reminder that years of dedication, hard work, and belief in myself can open doors to the highest stage of the sport I love. It is both an honor and a responsibility that I carry with immense pride.”
Marija Perić Todorović, Serbia
Marija has more than 14 years of experience, having officiated more than 150 tackle football games and 100 flag football tournaments. While proudly representing Serbia, she also serves as Head of Flag Officiating in the Netherlands, where she leads the development of the national flag officiating program. Internationally, she has officiated at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships 2024, the IFAF Flag Football European Championships 2025, and the IFAF Flag Football Youth European Championships 2024.
“Being selected to officiate at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships is one of the greatest honours of my officiating career. To represent my country and my two associations on the world stage means more to me than I can put into words. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to be part of such an amazing event and work alongside some of the best officials in the world.”
Bosiljka Jovanović Visconti, Serbia
Bosiljka is an experienced international flag football official with more than a decade of officiating at both national and international levels. He has been active since 2012, with more than 1,600 officiated games and participated in top level competitions. Recognized for consistency, game management, and adaptability across diverse competitions and officiating crews, he is actively involved in referee education and development, with a strong commitment to advancing the sport.
“I am honored to be selected for this competition. This is a big challenge for me to meet the organizers’ expectations. I will put all my capacities into giving my best. I see this championship as another big step in the development of flag football.”
Livia Lemp, Switzerland
Livia started playing and officiating flag football in 2017/2018. After officiating at an international tournament in Switzerland and some Swiss playoff games she was asked to apply for the IFAF Flag Football European Championships 2023 in Limerick, where she was the down judge in the women’s gold medal game.
“I am deeply honored and grateful for this opportunity. Can’t wait to do my part in growing flag football and pushing the sport onto a truly professional level”
Stephan Keck, Switzerland
Stephan has officiated and supervised at five IFAF Flag Football World Championships, the 2022 World Games, and many international club tournaments across Europe. As the Head of Officiating in Switzerland, he has spent more than seven years teaching officials. Drawing on his nine years as a player for a top European club, he brings a deep understanding of the game and a strong commitment to giving athletes a fair, safe and well-managed environment.
“Being selected for Düsseldorf is a huge honor for me. Having played on the international stage, I understand how much this tournament means to the athletes. I am very excited to see my international officiating family again and get to work.”
Begüm Kübra Tokyay, Türkiye
Begüm has been officiating Tackle and Flag Football since 2016 and has participated in more than 250 games across Türkiye and Europe. She has officiated National Championship games in both Türkiye and Sweden, attended multiple IFAF officiating clinics, and most recently worked at the 2025 European Flag Football Championship in Paris. In 2022, Begüm became Türkiye’s first female Head Referee, inspiring greater female participation in officiating and playing a key role in the growth of women referees in Türkiye. Alongside her on-field experience, she currently serves as Head of Flag Football Officiating in Türkiye and contributes as a proofreader for the IFAF Tackle Rulebook.
“Being selected for the IFAF Flag Football World Championships is a tremendous honor and a great responsibility for me. It reflects years of dedication, continuous learning, and the wonderful collaborations I’ve had with outstanding officials across Europe. I am proud of representing Türkiye on the world stage and contributing to the growth of Flag Football internationally. “
Berna Sule Soztekin, Türkiye
Ten years ago, Berna found a sport that quickly became a big part of her life. What started as playing flag football turned into a passion that led her to officiating and to friendships across the globe. Since 2023, she has been working as a referee in both flag football and tackle football, helping the sport grow while continuing to learn and enjoy every moment on and off the field.
“This selection represents much more than a tournament assignment. It reflects years of learning, growth, and commitment to a sport that has become a defining part of my life.”
Desiree Abrams, United States
Desiree serves as a high school tackle and flag football official with the Eastern Board of Officials (EBO), collegiate tackle official the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and a collegiate flag official in the Sun Conference. She is an NFL Replay Assistant, serves as Head of Officiating for the Women’s National Football Conference (WNFC), the Assigner for Conference Carolinas Women’s Flag Football and is the founder of the National Women’s Football Officials Association (NWFOA), an organization charged with the betterment of women’s football through exceptional officiating. She has officiated flag football at its highest level in the United States and internationally at IFAF competitions. Desiree is a Global Flag Football Ambassador and serves on several flag football review boards including the NCAA Women’s Flag Football Working Group and serves as the Chair of USA Football’s Flag Football Competition Committee with the goal of unifying flag styles and rulesets across the country.
“To officiate at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships is to be a custodian of a game that is capturing the world’s imagination. Being selected isn’t just a personal milestone; it’s an honor to stand on the international stage and ensure that as flag football grows globally, it is played with the integrity, passion, and excellence it deserves.”
Juan Carlos Diaz II, United States
Juan Carlos first started officiating Flag Football in 2012 in college for Intramural Sports at Mercer University. Since then, he has had the opportunity to keep officiating at multiple levels, including NCAA, NFL Flag National Championships, and the Superbowl Showcase featuring USA vs Mexico. He officiated the IFAF Americas Continental Championships in 2023 and 2025 and was selected to officiate the IV South America Youth Games in Panama.
“Being selected is a great feeling and almost surreal. It does not feel quite real in the best way. I am very honored to be able to get out there and make everyone proud.”
Nicole Randolph, United States
Nicole is a trailblazing female pioneer in football officiating whose professionalism, passion, energy, and experience elevate the game at every level. With officiating experience across the NCAA Big Ten Conference, UFL, Arena Football One, and eight years in flag football – including five years with IFAF – she brings extensive knowledge of rules, mechanics, game management, and crew communication to the IFAF Flag Football World Championships stage.
“My journey through life has been the foundation of my faith, actions, trust and integrity: one’s path can change in a moment, guiding you to an immaculate promised land you’ve never pictured. Being a football official has been that immaculate promised land.”
IFAF Flag Football World Championships ITOs
Allan Kotliar, Argentina
Gregor Slavik, Austria
Nathan Cope, Australia
Pamela Tuft, Australia
Ana Luiza Cazarin de Brito, Brazil
Giane Amorim Branco Pessoa, Brazil
Scott Woloshin, Canada
Catherine Piche, Canada
Tianyu Xing (Terry Xing), China
Neo Wei Di, China
Filip Malý, Czechia
Claes Scherwin Thalmann, Denmark
Daniel Barrera Madsen, Denmark
Magnus Lauesgaard, Denmark
Marko Immonen, Finland
Samantha Jousselin, France
Cédric Castaing, France
Nicole Debowski, Germany
Pascal Marc Filipiak, Germany
Mara Steiner, Germany
Jed Brookes-Lewis, Great Britain
Carla Carolina Nico Gavazza, Ireland
Omer Sela, Israel
Shalechet Eliyahu, Israel
Riccardo Zampedri, Italy
Francesca Moretti, Italy
Lucrezia Cian, Italy
Paulina Ivonne Orozco Quintana, Mexico
Paul Brownd, New Zealand
Donald McMillan, New Zealand
Magda Szymko, Poland
Marija Perić Todorović, Serbia
Bosiljka Jovanović Visconti, Serbia
Livia Lemp, Switzerland
Stephan Keck, Switzerland
Begüm Kübra Tokyay, Türkiye
Berna Sule Soztekin, Türkiye
Desiree Abrams, United States
Juan Carlos Diaz II, United States
Nicole Randolph, United States
