So for someone so acquainted with the spotlight, it is perhaps ironic that 2006 World Cup Finals referee Shamsul Maidin would rather remain out of it once he leaves the football pitch.

That characteristic, and Shamsul's humble nature, was evident again this week.

Though he was headhunted three months ago to join football's world body Fifa, he made public his new role only a few days ago.

On Tuesday, he starts with Fifa as a referee instructor - the first South-east Asian to do so.

'You know me, I prefer to stay in the background lah,' the 41-year-old said.

Three other Asians - from Saudi Arabia, Iran and Japan - will come under the Fifa referee assistance programme, launched by Fifa president Sepp Blatter last December.

Shamsul and his colleagues are tasked with raising refereeing standards in South-east and East Asia.

They will oversee referee development programmes and help build and improve national referees' committees.

It is moving up one level, from training Singapore's young referees to the region's instructors, Shamsul noted.

'This is really a great honour,' said the man voted the top 2006 World Cup referee - after the first round - on football website Soccernet.

He counts his good handling of his first World Cup match, the Trinidad & Tobago v Sweden encounter in Germany, as the best memory of an 18-year refereeing career.

The Fifa job is another accolade for Shamsul, who has also officiated at top international tournaments like the Asian Cup, African Cup of Nations and Fifa World Youth Championship.

He will continue to be based here and work from his Hougang flat. That suits the family-oriented father of four and wife Rozana Mohamad Noor just fine.

'She's been a pillar of support in everything I do, and I would not be what I am today if not for her,' said Shamsul of his wife.

The couple have three sons aged between 15 and 10, and an eight-year-old daughter.

It is clear Shamsul values quality time with his family.

For instance, despite rocketing fuel prices, he has stuck with his seven-seater multi-purpose vehicle, so the entire family can travel together and make their weekend shopping and feasting trips to Johor Bahru.

Haiqal, Harith, Hafiz and Nurhana will see less of their father though, as he will be required to travel more in his new role.

Shamsul also remains close to father Maidin Singah, from whom he first learnt the ropes of officiating by following dad to his matches.

Commitment is his son's best trait, according to the 66-year-old Maidin, himself a Fifa referee from 1981 to 1989.

'He works and trains very hard. When he wants to achieve something, he'll put his best into it,' said Maidin.

Overseas refereeing assignments in Qatar and Japan over the past few years took Shamsul away from his family for months, but he persisted, said Maidin.

His son was determined to make his mark and be a top referee, he noted, and the sacrifices have paid off.

Maidin added: 'This is one of my proudest moments as a father, to see my son go to the highest level and join Fifa.

'He can only return richer in knowledge, and this will benefit other referees here.'

limze@sph.com.sg