The Football World Cup Referees

Howard Webb (England)
An experienced referee well-known to Premier League fans and often pilloried for his apparent Manchester United sympathies. Well-respected in world football, becoming the first man to officiate the Champions League and World Cup final in the same year (2010). Has taken charge of 111 international games* awarding 23 penalties ' on average one every 4.8 games ' and brandished an average of 4.05 yellow cards every game. Webb has shown 21 players a red card in that time.Felix Brych (Germany)
One of the Bundesliga’s preeminent referees, the 38-year-old took charge of his first major final in the Europa League showpiece between Benfica and Sevilla this month. Brych booked seven players in that game and in 73 international matches has shown 252 yellows – an average of 3.45 per game. He’s issued 17 red cards ' including four occasions where’s he’s sent two players off in the same match.Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)
Istanbul-born Cakir may ring a bell with English fans. He sent off John Terry in Chelsea’s famous 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona in 2012, Gary Cahill versus Corinthians in the World Club Cup final, Mario Balotelli in a Europa League game between Manchester City and Dynamo Kiev in 2011 and controversially dismissed Manchester United’s Nani in a quarter-final with Real Madrid in 2013. At international level, he’s issued 332 yellows and 17 reds in 81 matches and pointed to the penalty spot 22 times.Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
Reportedly a multi-millionaire, the Swede made his major international tournament debut at Euro 2012 and has battled a fair bit of criticism for his performances in Europe over the last few years. Despite being renowned for his style of letting the game flow, his cards’ averages are not lower than many on the list. He’s shown 321 yellows in 89 international matches, along with 16 reds, and awarded the same number of penalties.Bjorn Kuipers (Netherlands)
One of the most experienced referees on the list, the Dutchman has been in charge of the 2011 Super Cup, the 2013 Europa League final, the 2013 Confederations Cup final and most recently the Champions League final between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Not only is he The Third Team’s (a European website that analyses referee’s performances) reigning referee of the year, the 41-year-old finds time to co-run three supermarkets and a hair salon! In 82 international games he’s issued 311 yellows, 17 reds and awarded 22 penalties.Milorad Mazic (Serbia)
Top-rated on WorldReferee.com, the Serbian has quickly risen up the ranks in European football and will be making his debut at a major international competition next month. Not shy about dipping his hand into his pocket, Mazic showed 30 yellow cards in seven Champions League/Europa League ties this season. On average he has shown 4.46 yellow cards per game in international matches and has given 16 reds and 17 penalties in 61 matches.Pedro Proenca (Portugal)
A financial advisor by day and a respected referee by night, Proenca was the first Portuguese to take charge of a European Championship final in 2012, and in doing so became the first man to referee the Champions League final and the Euros showpiece in the same year. One of the favourites to officiate the World Cup final, Proenca is another referee with trigger-happy tendencies on this list. Players picked up a massive 40 yellows in the seven European games he officiated this season. He averages 3.83 yellows a game at international level and has sent 14 players off in 89 games.Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)
The Italian is another on the list to have incurred the wrath of Man United fans. He was responsible for sending off Rafael in a Champions League quarter-final in 2010 against Bayern Munich with United leading 3-1. Munich would go on to score again and progress on away goals. Trusted on the big occasions, as being chosen to referee last year’s European Cup final testifies, the architect has worked at major tournaments before and is a safe pair of hands in the middle of the park. In 74 international appearances, the 42-year-old has shown 291 yellows and 10 reds.Despite the talents of the global football stars on show when the eagerly-anticipated World Cup kicks off in Brazil next Thursday, much of the dreams of those hoping to lead their country to glory will rest on the men in black refereeing the game. How will the referees handle the pressure of millions of eyes on them scrutinising every decision.
Who can forget Kuwaiti FA president Prince Fahid marching on to the pitch to remonstrate with the referee in 1982 after France scored a goal versus his country? Incredibly the ref controversially disallowed the goal but it made little difference that day – France still won 4-1. Or what about Germany’s Harald Schumacher’s infamous horror tackle on France’s Patrick Battison, also in 1982? The man in charge didn’t even give a foul despite Battison being knocked unconscious, losing several teeth and later slipping into a coma! More recently Howard Webb’s decision not to dismiss Nigel De Jong for a shocking karate kick into Xabi Alonso’s chest during the last World Cup final would not have been so easily forgiven had the Netherlands gone on to beat Spain. So in part two of our World Cup focus, we profile the men whose decisions will define the hopes of millions of fans across the world and there are a number on here who you don’t want to mess with.
Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain)
One of La Liga’s foremost referees, Carballo has tonnes of experience and was in charge of the Europa League final between Porto and Braga in 2011 and a year later was one of the 12 men in charge at Euro 2012. He copped some criticism in his first match for sending off a player apiece from Greece and Poland. In 53 international matches, the Spaniard has pointed to the spot 18 times, so spread bettors might be interested in buying penalty goal minutes in matches he officiates. The 43-year-old has also reached into his pocket 197 times for a yellow, an average of 3.72 a game, and has dismissed five players in international games.
Joel Aguilar (El Salvador)
Aguilar is one of the most experienced officials on the list having been a full international referee since 2001 and been in charge at everything from Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups, to World Club Cup finals and the last Confederations Cup. Although he was a reserve official four years ago, this will be the first time he’s actually refereed at a World Cup and total bookings points in his games should be interesting. In 89 international fixtures, he averages 4.28 yellow cards a game and issues a red every three matches.
Mark Geiger (USA)
In 2011, Geiger, who also works as a maths teacher, broke new ground for American football when he became the first man from the country to referee a FIFA final at the 2011 Under-20 World Cup. Geiger was also in action at the Olympic Games when he oversaw two matches and will be the first American since Brian Hall in 2002 to be at the World Cup. Based on 39 international matches, he’s issued an average of 3.79 yellow cards and 0.31 reds in that time, along with a penalty every 3.9 games.
Marco Antonio Rodríguez (Mexico)
A former sports professor who is now also a Protestant priest, Rodriguez has a reputation in Mexico for being very strict. Cards flow as often as waves of attacks in games he handles. He sent off two players in two games at the 2006 World Cup and also was criticised for showing a contentious straight red to Australia’s Tim Cahill in South Africa four years ago. Overall in 79 internationals, the 40-year-old has shown 350 yellows, 51 reds and pointed to the penalty spot 29 times – not a man to cross!
Enrique Roberto Osses (Chile)
Osses was at the centre of a footballing storm in 2005 when, after booking Ignacio Gonzalez for a second time in a Chilean league game, the goalkeeper reacted by hitting him in the face, knocking him to the ground. Gonzalez was subsequently banned for 50 games but moved to play in Argentina and didn’t serve his ban. That came in an extraordinary season for Osses when he sent off 21 players in just 16 games! Another fiery Latin American official on this list, he averages 4.66 yellows a game at international level and a red every four games.
Nestor Pitana (Argentina)
The respected Argentine has quickly risen through the refereeing ranks having received his FIFA badge three years after making his debut in 2007. He won widespread praise in his homeland for repeatedly stopping a Boca Juniors match in 2009 after sections of the crowd shouted discriminatory chants, drawing attention to the state of football in the country. Buyers of total booking points, make a note. Pitana averages 5.03 yellows at international level, although he’s only shown red nine times in 38 matches.
Wilmar Roldan (Colombia)
South American football has a reputation for being somewhat more volatile than other regions of the world and that might help explain why a number of refs on this list, Roldan included, rack up so many bookings. The Colombian has been a referee since 2003 and at international level since 2008, selected for his maiden Copa America tournament in 2011. Roldan has also officiated at the 2012 Olympic tournament and 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Across 73 international games, the 34-year-old is another to break the five yellows a game barrier, average 5.22 and shows a red card every two games on average.
Peter O’Leary (New Zealand)
Peter O'Leary is head of the biology section in school in New Zealand and referees in both his homeland and Australia. His name may ring a bell with Premier League fans as in 2008 as a guest of fourth official Steve Bennett for a game between Aston Villa and Sunderland, he was called into action after an assistant ref got injured. As the new fourth official he became the first ever New Zealander to act in the English top-flight. O’Leary has wielded 154 yellows in 42 international games and eight reds as well as given eight penalties.
*All referee stats taken from WorldReferee.com and are accurate as of 03/06/14