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* Keeping some of the world's biggest egos in check, running a business and starting a family - welcome to the life of top Aussie referee Mark Shield. He spoke to Ken Vernon in the lead up to the start of the A-League season this weekend. Main photograph by Fiona Harding
OK, so here's the question: Who was the most influential Australian involved in the Soccer World Cup? Not surprisingly, the
more people you ask, the more different answers you get.
Harry Kewell is the most frequent response, especially from women, followed by Mark Viduka and then most men's choice and our first goal-scorer, Tim Cahill - but they're all wrong.
The most influential man by far was the man in the middle - Mark Shield.
He is the hidden man of Australian soccer, a man who not only believes it is better to be seen and not heard, but that it is better to be neither seen nor heard. They are strange beliefs for a man with a whistle fetish, a man who just loves telling people what to do and punishing them severely when they don't do what they should.
In case you haven't yet guessed it, Mark Shield is a referee. No, Mark Shield is not a referee, Mark Shield is the referee.
In fact, he is the referee's referee and that's all he ever wanted to be since he was old enough to blow a whistle - a referee. Make that a World Cup referee.
"From the first time I ran the line for an under-12 game, all I ever wanted to be was a referee - I know it sounds bizarre but there it is," he says, his eyes smiling at my obvious look of incomprehension.
"By far the biggest thrill of my career was being named as a referee in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea. That just came right out of left field.
"Even though I thought I might be in the frame, there is no way I really thought it would happen. Then, when I read my name on the net, I was just totally blown away. It was like winning the lottery - my dad thought I was having a heart attack -...