Ravshan Irmatov

Ravshan Sayfiddinovich Irmatov (Uzbek: Ravshan Sayfiddinovich Ermatov, Равшан Сайфиддинович Эрматов; born August 9, 1977) is a Uzbek professional football referee. He has officiated in the Uzbek League since 2000, as well as at international level since 2003. As of June 2018, Irmatov holds the record for officiating the most FIFA World Cup matches.[1]

This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Sayfiddinovich and the family name is Irmatov.
Ravshan Irmatov
Full name Ravshan Sayfiddinovich Irmatov
Born (1977-08-09) August 9, 1977
Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union
(now Uzbekistan)
Other occupation Teacher
Domestic
Years League Role
2000–2019 Uzbek League Referee
International
Years League Role
2003–2019 FIFA listed Referee

In June 2019, Ravshan Irmatov was appointed as the first Vice-President of the Uzbekistan Football Association. The first Vice-President of this organization is the de facto leader of Uzbekistan’s football. He began reforms in Uzbekistani football after long criticism and corruption scandals in this country's football. Due to a new job, announced a temporary break in the career of the referee. During the inauguration, he said, “If we all come together and work for the same goal, we will overcome any difficulties”.[2]

Biography and career

Irmatov's father was also a referee, working in Soviet competitions. He has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2003. He is considered one of the elite referees in the world.[3] He was selected as a referee for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, where he refereed the group stage match between Gambia and Mexico, as well as the match between Chile and Congo.

He was named The Best Referee in Asia in four consecutive years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014),[4] and he was selected to officiate the final match of both the 2008 and 2011 FIFA Club World Cup.

Irmatov was selected as a referee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was in charge of the opening match between South Africa and Mexico on June 11. His appointment is the highest accolade so far for Asian referees in that year's World Cup. Irmatov equalled the record for number of matches in charge in a single FIFA World Cup when he took charge of the Netherlands-Uruguay semi-final.[5][6] He took charge of the World Cup 2010 Group C Fixture, where England met Algeria in Cape Town – thus becoming the youngest official to take charge of an opening World Cup match since 1934 and the youngest referee of 2010 FIFA World Cup. Irmatov also officiated at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup and was selected to referee the final between Australia and Japan.

Irmatov was selected as a referee at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. In the Group A match between Brazil and Italy on 22 June, he blew his whistle to award Italy a penalty and was seen pointing at the penalty spot. A second later, as play continued, Giorgio Chiellini scored with a low shot, with Irmatov instead pointing to the halfway line to signal a goal.[7] Irmatov admitted to his mistake after the game saying: “While I was whistling for a penalty, out of the corner of my eye I saw the goal and I thought advantage should be played and gave the goal.”[8][9]

On 27 December 2015 at Globe Soccer Awards ceremony in Dubai Ravshan Irmatov was named as Best Referee of the Year in 2015.[10][11] On 31 December 2015 president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree “On awarding Ravshan Irmatov with the order Buyuk Hizmatlari Uchun” (For outstanding services).[12] On 4 March 2016 Irmatov was named Referee of the Year 2015 in Uzbekistan by Football Federation for 10th time after survey results among sport journalists.

Honours

Individual

Order

Matches
Ravshan Irmatov & Joseph Blatter

See also
  • List of football referees

References
  1. "Uzbekistan get behind World Cup's top referee". Daily Nation. June 6, 2018. Going into the tournament in Russia where at least two million Uzbek migrants live, Irmatov has officiated more World Cup matches than any other referee in history.
  2. ufa.uz — Равшан Ирматов: «Если мы все сплотимся и будем работать ради одной цели, мы преодолеем любые трудности»
  3. "Ravshan Irmatov to officiate opening match of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa". Uzdaily.com. 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  4. "Ravshan Irmatov appointed for 2010 FIFA World Cup". UzDaily.com. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  5. "FIFA 2010 World Cup Referee List". Fifa.com. 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  6. Cheese, Caroline (1990-02-11). "South Africa 1-1 Mexico". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  7. "Italy 2 Brazil 4". Daily Mail. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  8. "Ref admits error in allowing Italy goal". ESPN. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  9. "Referee admits mistake in Italy vs. Brazil match". CBC.ca. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  10. "Messi batte Ronaldo e Buffon" (in Italian). Rai Sport. 2015-12-27.
  11. "Ravshan Irmatov named as best referee of 2015". UzDaily. 2015-12-28.
  12. "President awards Ravshan Irmatov with Buyuk Hizmatlari Uchun order". UzDaily. 2015-12-31.
Preceded by
Marco Rodríguez		 FIFA Club World Cup final match referees
2008
Ravshan Irmatov		 Succeeded by
Benito Archundia
Preceded by
Yuichi Nishimura		 FIFA Club World Cup final match referees
2011
Ravshan Irmatov		 Succeeded by
Cüneyt Çakır
Preceded by
Mark Shield		 AFC Asian Cup final match referees
2011
Ravshan Irmatov		 Succeeded by
Alireza Faghani
Preceded by
Ryuji Sato		 AFC Champions League Second-leg Final referee
2017
Ravshan Irmatov		 Succeeded by
Ahmed Al-Kaf
Preceded by
Alireza Faghani		 AFC Asian Cup final match referees
2019
Ravshan Irmatov		 Succeeded by
Most recent
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