The International Federation of American Football has confirmed the 40 International Technical Officials selected to oversee the IFAF World Flag Football Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany, according to official governing body announcements.
Marking a notable milestone for the sport, the tournament serves as the first-ever official Olympic qualifier in the history of flag football. Across the 40 selected officials, 22 nations are represented alongside a rare achievement of perfect gender parity. According to IFAF announcements, this roster sets a new benchmark for female participation among technical officials as the organization builds toward its goal of ensuring an equal number of male and female officials for the sport’s upcoming debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Officials heading to Düsseldorf were chosen following a global nomination process submitted by member federations worldwide. Most selected individuals bring extensive experience from previous international fixtures, including IFAF world and continental tournaments as well as multi-sport showcases like The World Games.
Represented nations on the officiating crew include Argentina, Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Serbia, Switzerland, Türkiye, and the United States.
Global Officiating Roster Brings Elite Experience
Among the recognized officials traveling to Germany is Allan Kotliar of Argentina, whose involvement in tackle and flag football spans two decades across multiple continents. Kotliar has previously officiated high-profile fixtures such as the men’s gold medal games at The World Games 2022 in Alabama and the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Commenting on his appointment, Kotliar noted that selection represents years of dedication across different roles and regions while highlighting the sport’s capacity to foster communication and teamwork.
Austria is represented by Gregor Slavik, who has presided over Austrian national championship games annually since 2020 and served on officiating crews at the 2024 World Championships in Lahti and the 2025 European Championships in Paris. Representing Australia, Nathan Cope brings 15 years of officiating experience to the pitch following assignments at past world championships and continental events.
For local officials, the tournament carries distinct personal significance. Mara Steiner, representing host nation Germany, has worked as a flag football official since 2014. According to Steiner, receiving an international assignment for a world championship hosted in her home country provides a uniquely meaningful opportunity to help deliver a world-class event.
Complete List of International Technical Officials
The 40 International Technical Officials confirmed for the Düsseldorf championships comprise the following representatives from the 22 participating nations:
- Allan Kotliar (Argentina)
- Gregor Slavik (Austria)
- Nathan Cope (Australia)
- Pamela Tuft (Australia)
- Ana Luiza Cazarin de Brito (Brazil)
- Giane Amorim Branco Pessoa (Brazil)
- Scott Woloshin (Canada)
- Catherine Piche (Canada)
- Tianyu Xing / Terry Xing (China)
- Neo Wei Di (China)
- Filip Malý (Czechia)
- Claes Scherwin Thalmann (Denmark)
- Daniel Barrera Madsen (Denmark)
- Magnus Lauesgaard (Denmark)
- Marko Immonen (Finland)
- Samantha Jousselin (France)
- Cédric Castaing (France)
- Nicole Debowski (Germany)
- Pascal Marc Filipiak (Germany)
- Mara Steiner (Germany)
- Jed Brookes-Lewis (Great Britain)
- Carla Carolina Nico Gavazza (Ireland)
- Omer Sela (Israel)
- Shalechet Eliyahu (Israel)
- Riccardo Zampedri (Italy)
- Francesca Moretti (Italy)
- Lucrezia Cian (Italy)
- Paulina Ivonne Orozco Quintana (Mexico)
- Paul Brownd (New Zealand)
- Donald McMillan (New Zealand)
- Magda Szymko (Poland)
- Marija Perić Todorović (Serbia)
- Bosiljka Jovanović Visconti (Serbia)
- Livia Lemp (Switzerland)
- Stephan Keck (Switzerland)
- Begüm Kübra Tokyay (Türkiye)
- Berna Sule Soztekin (Türkiye)
- Desiree Abrams (United States)
- Juan Carlos Diaz II (United States)
- Nicole Randolph (United States)
Stakes and Tournament Preparation
According to IFAF Board Director Fabio Tortosa, the selection panel faced difficult decisions due to a high volume of quality nominations submitted by national bodies. Beyond maintaining rigorous officiating standards on the field, the selected officials will debut vibrant new Nike uniforms tailored specifically for the Düsseldorf championships.
With flag football’s Olympic inclusion on the horizon, preparations across administrative, coaching, and officiating sectors continue to accelerate globally. National federations and tournament organizers will release further scheduling and operational updates as kickoff in Düsseldorf approaches.
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