SALVADOR, July 6 — Uzbekistan referee Ravshan Irmatov made football history today when he took charge of a record ninth World Cup game, the quarter-final between Netherlands and Costa Rica.

Before today, he held the record on eight with France’s Joel Quiniou, Jorge Larrionda of Uruguay and Mexico’s Benito Archundia (Mexico).

This was his fourth run out in Brazil.

The 36-year-old’s first World Cup game was the 2010 opening fixture between hosts south Africa and Mexico. — AFP