Mark Shield is a former AustralianFootball referee and national Director of Referees. He most recently refereed in Australia's A-League. He first played soccer for the Innisfail Tigers at the age of six. Not showing much promise as a player, he began refereeing at age 12, and by 16 was officiating adult matches in Townsville. At age 28, he was selected to serve as a referee for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He was one of 23 referees selected to officiate the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He lives in Fortitude Valley, Queensland. Shield announced his retirement from refereeing on 20 September 2008 and he refereed his last game in Round 8 of the 2008/09 A-League season in the match between Queensland Roar and Adelaide United.
Shield was selected to referee at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He officiated the Iran-Angola match and the Saudi Arabia-Tunisia match, both in group play. Shield was also selected as one of the final 12 officials eligible to officiate the final eight matches of the Cup. He was appointed the fourth official to the Portugal-France semi final.
In late 2006, Shield was appointed to referee the second leg of the AFC Champions League final between Al Karama and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors was played on Wednesday 8 November at the Khaled Bin Al Waleed Stadium. Jeonbuk Motors won the AFC Champions League after Brazilian striker Ze Carlo's 88th-minute header gave them a 3-2 aggregate victory over Al Karama. Al Karama won the second leg of the final 2-1 but the Brazilian's late goal made the difference after the Koreans won the first leg 2-0.
Asian Cup 2007
Shield was appointed with fellow Australian referee Matthew Breeze to referee at the 2007 Asian Cup. Australia was the only country with more than one representative on the panel of referees for the tournament. While at the tournament, he was selected for a number of matches including the final between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, whilst Breeze was selected to referee a semi-final match. Both were fortunate that the Australian team were knocked out in the quarter finals because they would not have been able to referee matches involving or affecting their own country in the latter stages.
Hyundai Club Challenge
Shield received creditable reviews for his performance in the one-off game between Sydney FC and Los Angeles Galaxy at Sydney's Telstra Stadium on 27 November 2007. In an exhibition match won 5-3 by the home team, Shield sent off LA Galaxy defender Kevin Harmse and also booked Beckham for a retaliatory lunge at Sydney's Robbie Middleby.
Shield made his professional debut just a month after his 22nd birthday, refereeing the Sydney United vs West Adelaide match in the old National Soccer League on 8 October 1995 at the Sydney United Sports Centre. He refereed 3 NSL Grand Finals.
A-League
Mark Shield was on the A-League Referees Panel at the start of the 2008/09 A-League season. On 19 September 2008, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that he was considering retirement. He did not referee in Round 4 of the 2008/09 A-League season, nor was he scheduled to referee in Round 5 that weekend. He refereed his final match in the Round 8 match between Queensland Roar and Adelaide United. Shield Refereed the first three A-League Finals before retiring, refereeing a total of six consecutive domestic league finals in Australia. A-League Matches:
2005/2006 Season: 19 Matches
2006/2007 Season: 19 Matches
2007/2008 Season: 17 Matches
2008/2009 Season: 6 Matches
Post A-League Career
Shield was admitted to the FFA Hall of Fame in 2010. In September 2011, Football Federation Australia appointed Shield as the new national Director of Referees, giving him responsibility for coaching and development of referees as well as appointment of referees to national competitions including the A-League. Shield left the position in September 2012 after announcing that he would not be renewing his contract after being offered a CEO role in another industry. Currently playing Over 30s Football in Mackay, Qld. Representing Mackay Dolphins FC.
