Football: Uzbekistan ref is face of football

Netherlands winger Arjen Robben with Uzbekistan's most popular sports figure, referee Ravshan Irmatov. Photo / AP

The biggest sporting figure in Uzbekistan is not a player. Nor is it a coach, or even a commentator. The most popular sports star in the Central Asian country is football referee Ravshan Irmatov.

The All Whites, who face Uzbekistan on Tuesday morning (NZT), will see his face on giant billboards around the capital Tashkent and might also spot him on local television commercials.

Irmatov fever began at the 2010 World Cup, when he was appointed to the opening game between the host nation and Mexico. He went on to adjudicate a tournament-high five matches in South Africa, including the semifinal between Uruguay and the Netherlands.

"We were really proud," recalled Said Kholov, an Uzbek who played as a junior for the Bukhara club but is now based in New Zealand. "He got some difficult decisions right early on and everybody noticed. The media paid attention to all his movements and the fact he wasn't afraid to give [yellow] cards to some 'cool' players like Juan Sebastian Veron. He became ridiculously famous."

Soon after returning from that tournament, Irmatov was honoured with the Pride of Uzbekistan title by the president. It's the highest state award - equivalent to the Order of New Zealand - and was conferred 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".

Irmatov, who showed a talent with the whistle after a teenage injury curtailed his playing ambitions, became a celebrity, appearing in television advertising campaigns and on billboards.

"He came to our university to present a football trophy and was surrounded," Kholov said. "Everyone wanted a photo with him and a ball that he autographed is now on display on the campus."

His fame reached its zenith after the 2014 World Cup, when he set a new tournament record. The 37-year-old has been in the middle for nine World Cup matches, more than any other referee in history.

"Hundreds of people were at the airport to greet him when he flew back home," Kholov said. "It was like a national hero had returned."

Uzbekistan's footballers have nowhere near the fame. Only a handful play outside Uzbekistan (mainly in Russia but also Ukraine, Serbia, South Korea and Kazakhstan) and the most high profile sportsman in recent times has been tennis player Dennis Istomin, who was ranked 33 in the world in 2012.

While their footballers may not be household names, they will be difficult opponents.

The White Wolves narrowly missed the final World Cup qualifying stage for Brazil (they were pipped by Jordan) and are ranked 51 in the world and third in Asia, ahead of Australia, South Korea and Iraq. The Uzbeks favour a passing game mixed with a direct approach, emphasising fast delivery to the strikers.

Many of their top players turn out for FC Bunyodkor in the Uzbek League, one of the wealthiest clubs in the region and champions for five of the past six seasons. At different times, they have been managed by Zico and Luiz Felipe Scolari, with the latter said to be the world's highest-paid manager at the time. Former World Cup winner Rivaldo also played there between 2008 and 2010.

The All Whites will encounter a busy city of more than two million during their brief stay in Tashkent.

It has the only subway system in Central Asia and a famous university but most of the historical landmarks were ruined by a 1966 earthquake.

Ana golu mana gol!
An Uzbek football glossary
Goal = Gol.
What a goal! = Ana golu mana gol!
He was offside = U o'yindan tashqari holatda edi.
New Zealand, you should stick to rugby = Yangi Zelandiya, yaxshisi regbi o'ynaqolinglar.
See you at the 2018 World Cup = 2018 -yil Jahon Chempionatida uchrashamiz.