ENGLISH TEAM TO
REFEREE WORLD CUP
FINAL
Select Group
officials to oversee
football's biggest
game
Select Group trio
Howard Webb,
Darren Cann and
Mike Mullarkey
have been appointed
as the match
officials for the
2010 World Cup
Final.
The match between
Netherlands and
Spain takes place on
Sunday and Webb has
been appointed as
the referee for
football's biggest
game, with Mullarkey
and Cann as his
assistants.
The trio have
already officiated
in three matches
during the
competition before
being advised they
would be retained at
the quarter-final
and semi-final
stages as possible
contenders for one
of the final matches
in the tournament.
Webb will become
only the second
Englishman ever to
referee a World Cup
Final, following in
the footsteps of
Jack Taylor who was
in charge of 1974
match between
Germany and Holland.
The Final of the
19th World Cup and
the 64th match of
this tournament is
being played at the
Soccer City Stadium
in Johannesburg and
will kick off at
7.30pm GMT.
Howard Webb,
Michael
Mullarkey and
Darren Cann
collect their
medals after the
UEFA Champions
League Final.
On their
appointment,
Mike Riley,
General Manager
of Professional
Match Game
Officials said:
"This is a
tremendous
achievement for
Howard, Mike and
Darren to
officiate the
FIFA World Cup
Final, made all
the more
remarkable given
that no other
officiating team
has been given
it off the back
of the UEFA
Champions League
Final in the
same season.
"It's not only
recognition for
their excellent
tournament in
South Africa so
far but also the
progress they
have made
internationally
over the last
four years. As a
team they've
worked
incredibly hard
to get to this
stage, starting
back at the FIFA
Under-20 World
Cup in 2007,
then Euro 2008
and last year
the 2009
Confederations
Cup. It's just
rewards for all
their efforts.
"Their
appointment is
fantastic
recognition for
English
refereeing and
should act as an
inspiration for
all young
referees wanting
to enter into
the game. It
just shows what
you can achieve
if you work
hard.
"It also
reflects very
well on their
Select Group
colleagues and
all of the team
that support
them throughout
the season. We
have a team of
full-time sports
scientists and
psychologists
who work on all
aspects of their
fitness and
well-being,
meaning not only
do we have a
group of
referees who are
excellent
athletes but
also have an
extremely
professional
attitude.
"We are
extremely proud
of Howard, Mike
and Darren and
I'm certain that
they'll enjoy
the occasion."
Richard
Scudamore,
Premier League
Chief Executive,
added: "We see
the hard work
and
professionalism
of
Howard Webb,
Darren Cann
and
Mike Mullarkey
week in week out
when they are
officiating in
the Barclays
Premier League.
So, it is great
to see their
fantastic
season, where
they have
already
represented
English
refereeing in
the UEFA
Champions League
Final, topped
off with the
ultimate
appointment -
the FIFA World
Cup Final.
"Credit must go
to the
Professional
Game Match
Officials too -
the support,
training and
assessment
processes they
have in place
mean we benefit
from having the
best prepared
officials;
clearly this has
been an
advantage to
Howard and his
team."
