January 15 – FIFA has named an elite group to officiate in Brazil this summer. Included in the list is English referee Howard Webb, who took charge of the bad-tempered 2010 World Cup final, but has had an indifferent season in the English Premier League.
Webb, who sent off the Netherlands’ Johnny Heitinga during Spain’s 1-0 trophy-clinching win four years ago as well as brandishing 14 yellow cards, was the first referee to take charge of a Champions League final and a World Cup final in the same year.
No country selected by FIFA for Brazil has more than one refereeing team. The choices were made by the FIFA Referees Committee under the chairmanship of FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce.
Europe provides nine of the 25 officiating teams, South America has five, Asia four, Africa and the CONCACAF region three each and Oceania one.
The youngest referee chosen is 33-year-old Wilmar Roldan of Colombia, and the oldest is 43-year-old Noumandiez Doue of Ivory Coast.
“FIFA has implemented a comprehensive program to ensure that the referees for its flagship competition are in peak condition,” the world governing body said in a statement.
“The referees selected … have been chosen based especially on their personality and their quality in football understanding by being able to read the game and the teams’ tactical approaches towards each game.
“Between now and the World Cup, the selected group of match officials will participate in three seminars: February, March/April, and the last one ten days before the kick-off.
“The selected referees and assistant referees will be followed and monitored regularly during this period, and FIFA is ready to give them all the support they need so that they can prepare for this important World Cup in the best possible manner.”
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