FIFA, the world football federation, has chosen Ravshan Irmatov of Uzbekistan to referee the first game of the World Cup finals in South Africa on June 11.
Irmatov, who has worked as an international referee since 2003, will officiate the opening match between South Africa and Mexico in Johannesburg.
Irmatov is currently rated the top football referee in Asia and is the first Uzbek to ever officiate in the finals of a FIFA tournament.
The World Cup runs in South Africa from June 11 to July 11, bringing together 32 national teams from around the world for the first World Cup to be held on African soil.
compiled from agency reports
Irmatov, who has worked as an international referee since 2003, will officiate the opening match between South Africa and Mexico in Johannesburg.
Irmatov is currently rated the top football referee in Asia and is the first Uzbek to ever officiate in the finals of a FIFA tournament.
The World Cup runs in South Africa from June 11 to July 11, bringing together 32 national teams from around the world for the first World Cup to be held on African soil.
compiled from agency reports
