Final Match Officials
On Wednesday 28th of June, one day after the Second Round matches were completed and two days before the Quarterfinals, the FIFA announced the 12 referees that were retained for the remaining matches. This is the standard process, meant to ensure only the best referees are in charge of the final few games. The twelve are:
- Toru Kamikawa (Japan)
- Coffi Codjia (Benin)
- Benito Archundia (Mexico)
- Horacio Elizondo (Argentina)
- Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)
- Mark Shield (Australia)
- Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)
- Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)
- Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)
- Markus Merk (Germany)
- Ľuboš Micheľ (Slovakia)
- Roberto Rosetti (Italy)
It is notable that the referees remaining had a lower average number of cards given per match (5.21) than the referee pool as a whole (5.82). Nine of the ten referees with the lowest number of cards per match were chosen to stay. This was met with criticism, however, as the referees could also be politically chosen. FIFA wanted to ensure that at least 1 referee from each continent within the final shortlist.
Read more about this topic: 2006 FIFA World Cup Officials
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