Ravshan Irmatov
![]() Irmatov in July 2014 | |||
Full name | Ravshan Sayfiddin oʻgʻli Irmatov | ||
---|---|---|---|
Born | Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union (now Uzbekistan) | August 9, 1977||
Other occupation | Teacher | ||
Domestic | |||
Years | League | Role | |
2000–2019 | Uzbek League | Referee | |
International | |||
Years | League | Role | |
2003–2019 | FIFA listed | Referee |
Ravshan Sayfiddin oʻgʻli Irmatov (Uzbek: Ravshan Sayfiddin oʻgʻli Ermatov; Russian: Равшан Сайфиддинович Эрматов; born August 9, 1977) 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.[1]
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 the country's football. 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
[edit]He was born on August 9 in 1977 in Tashkent in a footballer's family. Irmatov's 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.[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 for four consecutive years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and also in 2014),[4] 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 June 11. 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. 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.”[7][8]
On 27 December 2015 at Globe Soccer Awards ceremony in Dubai Ravshan Irmatov was named as Best Referee of the Year in 2015.[9][10] 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).[11] 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.
In 2023, Irmatov was elected to be the AFC executive committee representative of the central zone.
Honours
[edit]Individual
[edit]- 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
[edit]- El-Yurt Hurmati (Honour of people and Motherland) in 2014
- Buyuk Hizmatlari Uchun (For outstanding services) in 2015
Matches
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Irmatov_R.jpg/220px-Irmatov_R.jpg)
- 2019 AFC Asian Cup
Syria vs
Palestine
Iran vs
Iraq
Japan vs
Saudi Arabia (round of 16)
South Korea vs
Qatar (quarter-finals)
Japan vs
Qatar (final)
- 2018 FIFA World Cup
- 2017 FIFA Club World Cup
- 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup
- Video assistant referee
- 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
Syria vs
Japan (second round)
Saudi Arabia vs
Australia (third round)
United Arab Emirates vs
Japan (third round)
Australia vs
Saudi Arabia (third round)
Australia vs
Syria (fourth round)
- 2015 AFC Asian Cup
- 2014 FIFA World Cup
Switzerland vs
Ecuador
Croatia vs
Mexico
United States vs
Germany
Netherlands vs
Costa Rica (quarter-finals)
- 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
- 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup
South Korea vs
Japan (final tournament)
- 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup
- 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
Jordan vs
China (third round)
Thailand vs
Saudi Arabia (third round)
United Arab Emirates vs
South Korea (third round)
Iran vs
Qatar (third round)
- 2012 Summer Olympics
Great Britain vs
Senegal
Mexico vs
Switzerland
South Korea vs
Japan (bronze medal match)
- 2011 FIFA Club World Cup
- Monterrey
vs
Espérance de Tunis (match for fifth place)
- Santos
vs
Barcelona (final)
- Monterrey
- 2011 AFC Asian Cup
Iraq vs
Iran
Saudi Arabia vs
Japan
South Korea vs
Iran (quarter-finals)
Australia vs
Japan (final)
- 2010 FIFA World Cup
South Africa vs
Mexico (Opening match)
England vs
Algeria
Greece vs
Argentina
Argentina vs
Germany (quarter-finals)
Uruguay vs
Netherlands (semi-finals)
- 2008 FIFA Club World Cup
- Al Ahly
vs
Pachuca (quarter-finals)
- LDU Quito
vs
Manchester United (final)
- Al Ahly
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "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.
- ^ ufa.uz — Равшан Ирматов: «Если мы все сплотимся и будем работать ради одной цели, мы преодолеем любые трудности»
- ^ "Ravshan Irmatov to officiate opening match of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa". Uzdaily.com. 2009-10-28. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
- ^ "Ravshan Irmatov appointed for 2010 FIFA World Cup". UzDaily.com. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
- ^ "FIFA 2010 World Cup Referee List". Fifa.com. 2010-06-01. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
- ^ Cheese, Caroline (1990-02-11). "South Africa 1-1 Mexico". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
- ^ "Ref admits error in allowing Italy goal". ESPN. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ "Referee admits mistake in Italy vs. Brazil match". CBC.ca. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ "Messi batte Ronaldo e Buffon" (in Italian). Rai Sport. 2015-12-27.
- ^ "Ravshan Irmatov named as best referee of 2015". UzDaily. 2015-12-28.
- ^ "President awards Ravshan Irmatov with Buyuk Hizmatlari Uchun order". UzDaily. 2015-12-31.