World Cup referee Irmatov named “Pride of Uzbekistan”

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Published: 21 July, 2010, 12:25

Ravshan Irmatov (AFP Photo / Roberto Schmidt)

Referee Ravshan Irmatov, who adjudicated five matches at the recent FIFA World Cup in South Africa, has been awarded with the “Pride of Uzbekistan” title.

He received the highest state award for “his contribution to the glorification of national football in the world, an outstanding personal contribution to the enhancement of its prestige in the international arena and development of the school of refereeing in the country."

Irmatov’s assistant Rafael Ilyasov was awarded with the Order of Friendship, Uzbek news website Gazeta.uz reports.

The World Cup in South Africa was marred by refereeing scandals, but Irmatov was one of the few who managed to avoid criticism and received good marks for fulfilling his duties on the pitch.

Notable games that he refereed at the tournament were the opening match between hosts South Africa and Mexico at the 94,000-strong Soccer City arena in Johannesburg; the quarter-final face off between Germany and Argentina; and the semifinal match, in which the Netherlands took on Uruguay.

The Uzbek became the third referee in history to adjudicate as many games at a single World Cup.

Irmatov, 32, was named the best referee in Asia in 2008 and 2009. He oversaw the final of the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, in which Manchester United beat LDU Quito from Ecuador.

Irmatov works as a football instructor at a school. Besides his native Uzbek, he speaks Russian and English. Irmatov enjoys swimming and tennis as his hobbies.