International Classifiers

Classification Personnel are essential to the effective implementation of the IFCPF Classification Rules. IFCPF appoints qualified Classification Personnel to support the organisation, delivery, and administration of the classification system for CP Football. During IFCPF competitions, Classifiers are recognised as Games Officials.

A Classifier is an individual authorised and certified by IFCPF to conduct one or more components of Athlete Evaluation as a member of a Classification Panel. To be appointed, a Classifier must demonstrate the required competencies and successfully complete the IFCPF Classifier certification process.

IFCPF recognises two categories of Classifiers:

• Medical Classifiers – healthcare professionals, including medical doctors and physiotherapists, with expertise relevant to the assessment of eligible impairments.
• Sport Technical Classifiers – professionals with specialist knowledge of CP Football who assess the impact of an athlete's impairment on sport-specific activities and performance.

IFCPF Eligible Underlying Health Condition (UHC) Committee

As part of the implementation of the 2025 IPC Athlete Classification Code, the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) has established the Eligible Underlying Health Condition (UHC) Committee to support the athlete classification process.

Under the IPC Classification Code, verification of an Eligible Underlying Health Condition is the first stage of the classification process. Before an athlete is eligible to undergo international classification, the submitted medical documentation must be reviewed to confirm that it demonstrates an IPC Eligible Underlying Health Condition.

The UHC Committee is responsible for reviewing the medical evidence submitted by National Federations and determining whether the documentation is sufficient for an athlete to proceed to international classification. This process ensures that eligibility decisions are evidence-based, consistent, and aligned with the requirements of the IPC Athlete Classification Code.

The committee is composed of healthcare professionals with expertise in neurology, rehabilitation, and Para sport classification:

• Jaime Antunes (Portugal) – Medical Professional
• Joanne Morrell (Australia) – Physiotherapist
• Shona Pryde (Scotland) – Physiotherapist
• Bram Roberts (Netherlands) – Physiotherapist
• Jorge Parra (Colombia) – Medical Professional
• Daniel Bueno (Chile) – Medical Professional
• Arno ten Ham (Netherlands) – Medical Professional

The establishment of the UHC Committee forms part of IFCPF's commitment to implementing the 2025 IPC Athlete Classification Code and maintaining a fair, transparent, and internationally consistent classification system. By verifying medical eligibility before athletes attend an international classification evaluation, the committee supports an efficient classification process while safeguarding the integrity of competition in CP Football.