[AJA Global Report] Pride of Uzbekistan

Referee Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan shows a yellow card to Netherlands' Klaas-Jan Huntelaar during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between the Netherlands and Costa Rica (Photo: AP)

Last Saturday (July 5th) Ravshan Irmatov, football referee from Uzbekistan, set up a record at the FIFA 2014 World Cup held in Brazil, reported Jahon information agency.

Four-time Asian Football Confederation (AFC) “Referee of the Year” award winner Ravshan Irmatov officiated the quarter-final match between Netherlands and Costa Rica. He made a football history, becoming the first referee to officiate nine World Cup matches.

Irmatov started his international career as the FIFA referee in 2003 and made his World Cup debut in 2010.He was the youngest and one of the best referee, ran out five matches in South Africa, including the opening game between Mexico and hosting country.

In Brazil 2014 Ravshan Irmatov took charge of the three group stage matches – Switzerland vs. Ecuador, Croatia vs. Mexico and United States vs. Germany. Quarter final was his fourth match.

The previous record (8 matches) was held by three referees: Joel Quiniou from France first set the record in 1994, Benito Archundia of Mexico and Jorge Larrionda of Uruguay, both in 2010.

According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics data, Ravshan Irmatov was placed 26th on the list of the best referees of 2001-2010.

In 2010 head of the country Islam Karimov awarde him with the honorary title “O‘zbekiston Iftixori” (Pride of Uzbekistan) for “his contribution to the glorification of national football in the world, an outstanding personal contribution to the enhancement of its prestige in the international arena and development of the school of refereeing in the country.”
(Source: zimbio)

Samarkand is the second largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Samarqand Province. It is an ancient city on the Silk Road and a melting port of the world's cultures. It is listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 2001. (Photo: Xinhua)

Samarkand is must-to-see city

Samarkand, the second largest city of Uzbekistan, is on the list of the Top 50 Cities to See in Your Lifetime, published on Tuesday by Huffington Post.

Samarkand, writes the Huffington Post, is an ancient Silk Road city and the madrasas and mosaics of the monumental Registan square are among the world’s most beautiful examples of Islamic architecture.

Samarkand is one of the world’s most ancient cities. Unique city of Uzbekistan with rich historical and cultural legacy was a heart of the trade and cultural exchanges on the Great Silk Road between China and European countries.

In 2007 Uzbekistan celebrated the 2750th anniversary of this beautiful city. Today Samarkand is one of the most popular travel destinations in Uzbekistan.

In August 2013, Samarkand and city of Gyeongju became the sister-cities followed by signed memorandum of friendship and cooperation.

President of the South Korea Park Geun-hye during her official visit to Uzbekistan, and Samarkand in particularly, in last June said that the extraordinary monuments of Samarkand as a symbol of ancient culture and history of our people’s statehood and the great example of the national architecture art.
(Source: www.press-service.uz)

By Kamila Yuldasheva, Uzbekistan, AJA Global Report