Bermuda’s football officiating has entered a new era following the unopposed election of pioneering FIFA referee Tashon Simons as President of the Bermuda Referees’ Association (BRA).
Simons, who in 2017 became the first Bermudian in over a decade named to the FIFA International Referees List, succeeds Anthony Francis. He inherits an organization facing critical structural and recruitment thresholds.
BRA 2026 EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
• President: Tashon Simons
• Vice President: Dwight Jackson
• Secretary: Kentoine Jennings
• Treasurer: Ralshon Douglas
Simons outlined a clear mandate targeting the 17-to-30 demographic to secure the island’s refereeing pipeline.
“We will look at options to make refereeing more attractive so that more young people join the ranks, and I hope to recall some who recently stopped,” Simons said.
A central pillar of his presidency will include opening formal negotiations with the BFA to increase match fees. However, Simons warned that pay hikes must be earned through member commitments to regular training, technical courses, and general meetings.
The new regime also confirmed it will strictly enforce existing governance frameworks, including the Disciplinary Code, Code of Conduct, and Matchday Protocol, to elevate the professional image of the domestic game.
