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Philip Sharp (April 5, 1964 - ) is
an English Premier League assistant referee and one of
only 10 match officials from the United Kingdom to have
officiated in a FIFA World Cup Final.
Phil first played football for East Barnet School, but
became a referee via the Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Scheme in order to fulfill the Service in the Community
component of the course. He gained his
apprenticeship through the Hertfordshire County League
before gaining promotion onto the Southern Football
League middle. From here he was promoted to Panel
Referee for two seasons, before being promoted to an
Assistant Referee on the Football League and, finally,
the Premier League. He was selected to run the line at
the 1999 FA Challenge Cup Final. Phil currently referees
on the national Contributory List of match referees.
Phil was promoted to the FIFA list of match officials on
January 1, 1997, being appointed to his first
international (in Budapest) in the Summer of that year.
His progression, internationally, was exceptional being
appointed to hold the flag in the opening game of his
first senior tournament, the 2000 European
Championship, and the semi-final of that tournament.
In the 2002 FIFA World Cup Sharp was appointed to five
games in total, including the Croatia v Italy match, and
the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final between Germany and
Brazil. As such he was England's second successive
match official at a Final match, Mark Warren having been
the Assistant Referee at the 1998 FIFA World Cup Final.
Phil was selected to represent Great Britain at
the 2004 Olympic Games football tournament - where he
was appointed as Assistant Referee on the Final match -
and he represented England at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in
Germany.
A presentation to mark his
achievement of officiating at 150 games in European
Competition was made to Phil at a recent gathering of
Premiership Assistant Referees.
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