Frankfurt: Football's world governing body FIFA and the organisers of the World Cup finals in Germany on Friday announced the list of 23 referees from as many countries who will officiate this summer's tournament.
They were chosen from the original list of 44 prospective officials whose performances were evaluated by FIFA officials over the past 18 months.
The referees were also observed at two FIFA workshops in Frankfurt.
Europe has the largest contingent with 10 officials including France's Eric Poulat, German Markus Merk, Spaniard Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez, Massimo De Santis of Italy and Britain's Graham Poll.
There are two referees each from Asia and Africa, three from North and Central America, five from South America and one from Oceania.
The World Cup kicks off on June 9 with the final on July 9.
The list is:
Asia (2): Toru Kamikawa (Japan), Shamsul Midi (Singapoe)
Africa (2): Essam Abd El Fatah (Egypt), Coffi Codjia (Benin).
North and Cenral Ameria (3): Benito Archundia (Mexico), Carlos Batres (Guatemala)*, Peter Prendergast (Jamaica)
South America: (5): Carlos Amarilla (Paraguay), Horacio Elizondo (Argentina), Jorge Luis Larrionda (Uruguay), Oscar Ruiz (Colombia), Carlos Simon (Brazil)
Oceania (1): Mark Shield (Australia)
Europe: (10): Massimo Busacca (Switzerland), Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)*, Massimo De Santis (Italy), Valentin Ivanov (Russia), Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain), Markus Merk (Germany), Lubos ichel (Slovkia), Graham Poll (England), Eric Poulat (France), Kyros Vassaras (Greece)
*= The selection of Batres and De Bleeckere is subject to them passing a fitness test.
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