Rotherham ref Howard Webb heads for World Cup

It marks the second time the 42-year-old Yorkshireman has been chosen for the tournament, having four years ago in South Africa become the first Englishman to take charge of a World Cup final since Jack Taylor in 1974.

The world governing body’s referees committee on Wednesday announced its 25 referee trios and eight support duos, representing 43 different countries, after making the appointments at its meeting in Zurich on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Northern Ireland’s Jim Boyce.

FIFA said the referees had been selected “based especially on their personality and their quality in football understanding by being able to read the game and the teams’ tactical approaches towards each game”.

The chosen officials will participate in three seminars in the coming months and will be “followed and monitored regularly”, with FIFA vowing to give them all the support they need to prepare for the tournament.

Webb grew up in Rotherham, where his father was also a referee.