Japanese official to referee FA Cup match
Japanese referee Masaaki Toma is set on Sunday to become the first non-British official to take charge of an FA Cup match, a referees' body said.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: November 11, 2011 11:23 PM IST
Japanese referee Masaaki Toma is set on Sunday to become the first non-British official to take charge of an FA Cup match, a referees' body said.
Toma is in Britain as part of a referee exchange programme. He has been selected to officiate in the FA Cup first round match between third-tier side Brentford and sixth-tier outfit Basingstoke.
The match will be played at Brentford's Griffin Park ground in west London on Sunday.
Toma was in charge when hosts England beat Mexico 3-1 in a friendly at Wembley in May 2010.
"Masaaki Toma is a world-class referee and his appointment shows that the FA Cup really does hold global appeal," said David Elleray, chairman of the FA's Referees Committee.
Whilst on his exchange visit, he has already taken on a reserve team clash between Premier League sides Bolton and Sunderland as well as a sixth-tier Conference North fixture.