Ravshan Irmatov is an elite Uzbekistani football referee known for his remarkable officiating skills.
He holds the record for officiating the most FIFA World Cup matches, with a total of 11.
Irmatov was the youngest referee to officiate an opening match at a FIFA World Cup since 1934.
Biography
Early Life
Ravshan Sayfiddinovich Irmatov was born on August 9, 1977, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, into a family deeply rooted in football. His father was a referee in Soviet competitions, which likely influenced Ravshan's path into officiating. Growing up in this environment, he developed a passion for the sport that would shape his future career.
Career
Irmatov began his officiating career in the Uzbek League in 2000 and quickly made a name for himself. By 2003, he became a full international referee for FIFA, marking the start of a remarkable journey in football officiating. Over the years, he officiated in numerous prestigious tournaments, including the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007 and the FIFA World Cup in 2010, where he made history by being the youngest referee to officiate an opening match since 1934. He is renowned for his exceptional skills, having officiated a record 11 FIFA World Cup matches throughout his career.
Irmatov's accolades include being named The Best Referee in Asia for five consecutive years and receiving the Globe Soccer Award for the Best Referee of the Year in 2015. His contributions to the sport have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Order of El-yurt hurmati and the Order of Outstanding Merit.
Legacy
Ravshan Irmatov is celebrated not only for his achievements on the field but also for his dedication to the sport of football. His legacy as one of the elite referees in the world continues to inspire aspiring officials in Uzbekistan and beyond. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Irmatov has left an indelible mark on the world of football officiating, showcasing the importance of integrity and professionalism in the sport.
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Gallery
Career & Clubs
Irmatov was born on 9 August 1977, in Tashkent in a footballer's family. His father was also a referee, working in Soviet competitions. He has been a full international referee for FIFA since 2003 and is considered one of the elite referees in the world. 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 also selected as the fourth referee for the final match between Argentina and the Czech Republic at the BMO Field in Toronto. He was named The Best Referee in Asia for four consecutive years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and also in 2014), and was selected to officiate the final 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 11 June. 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. 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…
- National team
- Uzbekistan
Trophies & Awards
- Award
- Order of El-yurt hurmati
- Award
- Order of Outstanding Merit
- Award
- The Pride of Uzbekistan
Legacy
Individual
Uzbekistan Referee of the Year (10): 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 AFC Referee of the Year (5): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014 Globe Soccer Award for the Best Referee of the Year: 2015
Order
El-Yurt Hurmati (Honour of people and Motherland) in 2014 Buyuk Hizmatlari Uchun (For outstanding services) in 2015
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Ravshan Sayfiddinovich Irmatov is an Uzbek professional football referee. He officiated in the Uzbek League from 2000–2019 and internationally from 2003–2019. Irmatov holds the record for officiating the most FIFA World Cup matches with 11.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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