The first match of the 2010 World Cup will be refereed by Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan who will be assisted by fellow Uzbek, Rafael Ilyasov, and Bakhadyr Kochkarov, from Kyrgyzstan.
The World Cup opens June 11 in South Africa with Mexico v South Africa.
According to goal.com:
Irmatov is the only Uzbek referee to have refereed matches in the World Cup or in the later stages of any FIFA tournament. Irmatov has officiated games at the Under-17 World Cup, the Under-20 World Cup and at the FIFA Club World Cup. At 32, Irmatov is the youngest referee in the World Cup.
Kochkarov, a native of Osh, is a full-time football teacher, who speaks Russian as well as Kyrgyz and Uzbek. Ilyasov speaks Russian and Uzbek; Irmatov speaks Uzbek, Russian and English.
Just as well. They may be able to communicate with each other in two or more common languages at any time, but it might be a relief not to understand any verbal abuse in Spanish.
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