Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Brasilia: Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura has been named as the fourth official for Saturday’s 2014 FIFA World Cup play-off for third place between host nation Brazil and the Netherlands at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia.
The appointment is another major positive for Asian officials at the global event, and comes after Uzbekistan referee Ravshan Irmatov's record-breaking ninth World Cup appearance when he took charge of the Netherlands' quarter-final victory over Costa Rica.
The game in Brasilia will be Nishimura’s third appointment at the World Cup. The 2012 AFC Referee of the Year oversaw the tournament’s opening game between Brazil and Croatia, before going on to act as fourth official during Ecuador’s Group E win against Honduras.
The 42-year-old will assist Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi, while compatriot Toru Sagara will be the reserve assistant referee.
Nishimura is the third Japanese referee to have officiated at two World Cup finals, following Shizuo Takada in 1986 and 1990, and Toru Kamikawa in both 2002 and 2006.
At the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Nishimura handled four matches, including the Netherlands versus Brazil quarter-final.
Photo: AFP