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Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Jahari will be the first Singaporean football referee to officiate at an Olympic final.

🇸🇬⚽ Taqi will be the first Singaporean referee to be part of a team of match officials for an @Olympics men's football final! He will be an assistant VAR tonight as Brazil and Spain vie for @Tokyo2020 #football gold - all the best! #iDare2Ref #ONESTRONG #Tokyo2020

Photo: Taqi pic.twitter.com/WdkWsbHbPs

— FAS (@FASingapore) August 7, 2021

Taqi was appointed as the video assistant referee at the Olympics men's football final tonight, as Brazil and Spain compete for the gold medal.

One of Singapore's top football referees

Taqi, 34, is one of Singapore's top football referees, having officiated in various FIFA and regional World Cup qualifiers and friendlies.

These tournaments include the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in India and 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Poland, and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

According to Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, Taqi is vastly experienced, having been a FIFA international referee since 2012.

He is also a full-time referee at the Football Association of Singapore's referee department since 2015.

His role as the VAR referee

Taqi was the first Singaporean to be accredited as a FIFA Video Match Official (VMO) earlier this year.

Singapore's very own Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari will be flying the nation's colours at his first Olympic Games as a Video Match Official! 🇸🇬💪 #iDare2Ref #ONESTRONG

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/5nODCFK4wy pic.twitter.com/K72MlnSkQ7

— FAS (@FASingapore) July 20, 2021

As the VAR referee, Taqi will be "scrutinising every offside and tackle in the penalty box with an eagle eye", said Tong.

It is the first time that VAR technology is used in the tournament.

Top image from Edwin Tong Facebook.

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