Ex-Trinidad and Tobago football referee Noel Bynoe dies

THE TT Football Association (TTFA) extended sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of Noel Bynoe following the death of the former FIFA referee. Bynoe died on Friday in New York. He was 59.

Bynoe, born January 15, 1962, was a respectable and reputable referee from Canaan, Tobago who officiated at several FIFA international matches, Concacaf World Cup qualifiers and Champions Cup matches. For several years he officiated in many high-profile domestic matches at the Pro League and Super League club level as well as the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL)

A TTFA media release on Sunday said, "He gave a number of years of excellent service to the local game as a referee and his performances and experience were rewarded with a number of high profile appointments during this time."

Bynoe officiated at the 1999 FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup in New Zealand, the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Pacific Islands. At the finals, which was won by Brazil, he took charge of Spain’s 6-0 win over Thailand.

Bynoe was also appointed to the 1999 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championship in Jamaica and the 2002 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Also in 1999, he carried the whistle in the final of the inaugural Concacaf Giants Cup between USA’s DC United and Club America of Mexico. That tournament served as a qualifier for the Concacaf Clubs Cup, an eight-team single-elimination tournament that would determine the confederation's entrant in the 2003 FIFA Club World Championship.

In 2001, Bynoe was also among the personalities who assisted in the draw for the FIFA Under-17 Men’s World Cup in TT. At the draw held at the Tobago Hilton then, he joined the likes of Brian Lara, Hasely Crawford, former netballer Lystra Lewis, ex-TT footballer Reynold Carrington and former Miss World Giselle Laronde-West among those aiding with the pulling of the balls from the pots.

Bynoe was later honoured for his contribution to the game in 2008 by the TTFA during an event attended by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and again in 2017 during a visit to TT by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

He was named the TT Pro League’s Referee of the Year in 2000.

Additionally, Bynoe was named Tobago Referee of the Year on a few occasions and was a national referees instructor and assessor, also serving on the Training, Examination and Assessment Committee. He was also a head refereeing instructor in the sister-isle and a SSFL match commissioner.

"His presence will continue to be felt across the local refereeing community and we remember him for his sterling contribution and commitment and as a loyal and dedicated servant to the game."