SPORTS
IFFHS: Markus Merk is the best referee of the 21st Century
Baku, January 16 (AZERTAC). After the period of 12 years, the already retired German Markus Merk, who was The World’s best Referee of the Year three times, is leading the World`s best Referee of the 21st Century, ahead of the still active Jorge Luis Larrionda.
The Uruguayan is therefore - up to now - the best South American referee of the 21st century, ahead of Colombian Óscar Julián Ruiz. In the “Top 10”, along with the two mentioned South Americans, are Belgian Frank De Bleeckere, Slovak Ľuboš Micheľ and the Dane Kim Milton Nielsen, placed five referees who never became World`s best Referee of the Year, but who have provided world-class performances over a long period of time. Over the half of the career of 6-times World`s best Referee Dr. Pierluigi Collina took place before the start of the 21st century. Compared to 2011, the Englishman Howard Webb improved from 10th to 4th place and The World`s best Referee 2012, the Portuguese Pedro Proença, improved markedly from 68th to 32nd place. Asia`s leading referee of the 21st Century is the Uzbek Ravshan Irmatov and Central and North America`s leading referee of the 21st Century is the Mexican Benito Armando Archundia.
Turkish referee Cuneyt Chakir is placed 35th with 19 points.