Irmatov to referee U17 World Cup opener

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan’s FIFA World Cup 2010 candidate Ravshan Irmatov will referee the opening match of the FIFA U17 World Cup between hosts Nigeria and Germany.

Iramatov, one of five Asian referees short-listed for next year’s World Cup, will be joined by his assistant refereeing team of Rafael Ilyasov and Bahadyr Kochkarov at the Nigeria Main City Stadium on Saturday.

"It is a great honour for us that an Asian referee will officiate in the opening match of the U17 World Cup," said AFC Referees Development Department Director Yoshimi Ogawa.