Tag: Kovacs

FIFA selects Kovacs for 1000th World Cup match

MEXICO CITY, JUNE 19 -- Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs has been chosen to officiate the 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history, world soccer governing body FIFA said on Thursday, Xinhua reported. Kovacs will take charge of the Group F match between Tunisia and Japan at Monterrey Stadium on Saturday, according to a FIFA statement. According to the statement, he will be assisted by compatriots Ferencz Tunyogi and Mihai Marica, along with Costa Ricans Juan Calderon and Juan Carlos Mora, serving as fourth official and reserve assistant referees, respectively. FIFA's chief refereeing officer and chairman of the referees' committee Pierluigi Collina said Kovacs was selected according to the usual criteria, even for special matches. "We chose the referee we thought was the best one for this match," Collina said. "And of course, coincidentally, he was also appointed for the 1,000th game. So, for him, it was something extra -- something special." "Referring a FIFA World Cup match is always a privilege, it's an honour," said the Italian, who refereed the 2002 World Cup final between Brazil and Germany. Kovacs, 41, is part of the match officials panel at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, serving as fourth official eight times. -- BERNAMA-XINHUA

MEXICO CITY, JUNE 19 — Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs has been chosen to officiate the 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history, world soccer governing body FIFA said on Thursday, Xinhua reported. Kovacs will take charge of the Group F match between Tunisia and Japan at Monterrey Stadium on Saturday, according to a FIFA statement. […]