Benjamin Jon Williams (born 14 April 1977), better known as Ben Williams, is a retired Australian football referee.

Refereeing career

Williams officiates in the Asian Champions League (ACL), AFC Cup and in the Australian A-League football competition. He has been a FIFA referee since 2005 and AFC Elite panel referee since 2006. Williams has been selected to referee at the FIFA 2014 World Cup Brazil and is the only Australian referee to be selected. He was selected to officiate at the 2012 Asian Champions League (ACL) final in Korea between Ulsan Hyundai and Al Ahli. He has officiated in the AFC Champions League since 2007. In 2012, he was also selected to officiate 4 matches (2 as referee and 2 as 4th official) at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He officiated in the opening Great Britain match at Old Trafford against Senegal in front of approximately 75,000 spectators. He officiated at the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup Turkey, 2010 FIFA Club World Cup and 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Williams debuted in the Hyundai A-League in Round 1, 26 August 2005 and at time of retirement, was the most experienced referee in the A-League. He refereed his 100th match, Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United, at Bluetongue Stadium in March 2012. On 15 January 2014, FIFA announced that Ben Williams was selected as one of the 25 2014 FIFA World Cup officials. In preparation of the tournament Williams took six months off work to ensure he could focus on his training and preparation. He was the first Australian referee appointed as the referee to a second-round game of a World Cup. He was also one of officials in 2015 AFC Asian Cup. On 22 July 2016, the Football Federation Australia announced that Williams would retire from refereeing after 22 years on the national panels and 12 years as a FIFA referee. Williams, in total, refereed 161 Hyundai A-League matches and 24 NSL matches throughout his career. He also refereed the 2015 Westfield FFA Cup final as well as international matches through the AFC and FIFA panels, including becoming the first Australian referee to officiate at a knockout match at a FIFA World Cup in 2014.

Matches

A-League matches

Williams is currently the most experienced A-League referee having refereed 130 matches by the end of the 2013/2014 season.

International matches

AFC Cup

AFC Champions League

2008 AFC U-19 Championship

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)

2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification

2010 Asian Games

Guangzhou, China (3–25 November 2010)

FIFA Club World Cup

Abu Dhabi, UAE (1–20 December 2010)

2011 AFC Asian Cup

Doha, Qatar (7–29 January 2011)

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)

2012 Men's Football Olympics – Asian qualifiers

2012 Summer Olympics football tournament

2013 EAFF East Asian Cup

2014 FIFA World Cup

2015 AFC Asian Cup

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)

2016 Kirin Cup

Teaching career

During his refereeing career, Williams was a public high school teacher in the Australian Capital Territory, where he has taught at Melba High School, Belconnen High School, and Lyneham High School. In 2020 he was promoted to an executive position at the University of Canberra High School Kaleen where he continues to teach physical education.

Honours