All referees affiliated with FIFA have a designated referee grade. These grades indicates the qualification of the referee to officiate at various levels of local, national and international soccer competition.

Meanwhile, Eight Sierra Leonean Referees who successfully met the FIFA inflexible standards and were officially presented with their badges as FIFA Certified referees for 2023

Key amongst them was Constable Swahib Bangura who was awarded Federation International Football Association (FIFA) Grade ‘A’ Referee badge on Tuesday 7th February in a Press Conference at the Police Headquarters

Bangura is the first Police Officer in the country to be recommended by FIFA.

According to him, “the award will serve as a license to officiate both national and international tournaments”, adding that he was fortunate to be amongst the nine recipients of the Federation International Football Association Grade ‘A’ Referee badge across Africa.

He noted that this achievement would bring great pride to the Sierra Leone Police and the country in general.

He further thanked the inspector, General of Police, WIlliam Fayia Sellu for making it easy for him to exhibit his skills and Pursue his profession as a Grade A referee in the country.