FIFA names referee for first match of World Cup 2010

 

A referee from Uzbekistan, Ravshan Irmatov, will judge the first match of the 2010 World Cup, a qualifier between South Africa and Mexico, FIFA announced on Saturday. 

Irmatov, who began his international career 7 years ago, judged the final Club World Cup 2008 between Manchester United and Liga Deportiva Universitaria.

He is considered the best referee of the Asian Football Confederation and is the sole representative of Uzbekistan in refereeing final matches in FIFA competitions.

His assistants in the first game of the 2010 World Cup will be Rafael Il'yasov from Uzbekistan and Bahadir Kochkor from Kyrgyzstan. The first match of the World Cup 2010 will be between Mexico and South Africa and will take place in Johannesburg on June 11th.