ISTANBUL
An Istanbul soccer referee has become the first Turk in almost 40 years to officiate a World Cup match when he takes charge of Tuesday’s clash between Mexico and tournament hosts Brazil.
Cuneyt Cakir, Turkey’s UEFA elite football referee, has been the first Turkish referee at a World Cup since Dogan Babacan who officiated during 1974 games between West Germany and Chile; Bulgaria and Uruguay; and Brazil against East Germany.
The 37-year old has been assisted by Bahattin Duran and Tarik Ongun.
Cakir, Duran and Ongun has been first Turkish referees to officiate at both the UEFA European Championship and World Cup.
Cuneyt Cakir, one of the 23 most prominent referees in Europe, began his career in 1994. He has been referee in more than 170 matches and was selected for the U21 European Championship finals in Sweden in 2009.
Cakir supervised five semi-finals throughout his career including UEFA European Under-21 Championship, FIFA U-20 World Cup, UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.
Four referees from the Asian Football Confederation, three from the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association of Football, five from the South American Football Confederation, one referee from the Oceania Football Federation and nine referees from UEFA will take part in the games.
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