Michael Hester

Michael Hester (born 2 May 1972), is a former New Zealand association football referee in the A-League. Holder of a FIFA international licence, he has participated at the highest level, officiating at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Biography Hester has been a NZFC certified referee since 2004 and gained his FIFA international qualification in January 2007. He refereed some games in the 2008 Summer Olympics, and has also refereed matches in the Oceania qualification group for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

He was also appointed as a referee for the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in Nigeria.

Hester was included on the short list to officiate at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa along with fellow New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary, both of whom were confirmed in the final 30 officials to take charge at the finals. He was assisted by Tongan assistant referee Tevita Makasini. On 12 June 2010 he refereed the FIFA World Cup game between Greece and South Korea. Hester blew the final whistle on his refereeing career at the end of the 2011 New Zealand winter season to focus on his career in the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Personal life He has worked, besides his football career, as a naval officer in Auckland, and played both Rugby union and football before turning to officiating.

Honours 2009: NZDF Sports Award: Outstanding Sports Person of the Year 2017: Official referee of The Football Ramble