Ravshan Irmatov

Ravshan Sayfiddinovich Irmatov (born 9 August 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.

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”.

Biography and career 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 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.”

On 27 December 2015, at Globe Soccer Awards ceremony in Dubai Ravshan Irmatov was named as Best Referee of the Year in 2015. On 31 December 2015, the president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree “On awarding Ravshan Irmatov with the order Buyuk Hizmatlari Uchun” (For outstanding services). On 4 March 2016, Irmatov was named Referee of the Year 2015 in Uzbekistan by the 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 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

Matches

2019 AFC Asian Cup vs vs vs (round of 16) vs (quarter-finals) vs (final) 2018 FIFA World Cup vs vs 2017 FIFA Club World Cup Pachuca vs Wydad AC (second round) 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup Video assistant referee 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) vs (second round) vs (third round) vs (third round) vs (third round) vs (fourth round) 2015 AFC Asian Cup vs vs vs vs (semifinal) 2014 FIFA World Cup vs vs vs vs (quarter-finals) 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup vs 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup vs (final tournament) 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup vs (final leg 2nd) 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) vs (third round) vs (third round) vs (third round) vs (third round) 2012 Summer Olympics vs vs vs (bronze medal match) 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Monterrey vs Espérance de Tunis (match for fifth place) Santos vs Barcelona (final) 2011 AFC Asian Cup vs vs vs (quarter-finals) vs (final) 2010 FIFA World Cup vs (Opening match) vs vs vs (quarter-finals) vs (semi-finals) 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Al Ahly vs Pachuca (quarter-finals) LDU Quito vs Manchester United (final)