Courtesy: UEFA


Élite dozen bound for Ostrava

Monday, 8 November 2004

The 12 referees for the 2005 UEFA European Futsal Championship have been confirmed by UEFA.

Highly regarded

It is an experienced list with Pedro Ángel Galán Nieto of Spain and Károly Török of Hungary, who together took charge of the 2003 final in Italy, among the dozen. It has been chosen from a wealth of highly-regarded officials from across Europe and also includes Ivan Novak, who was involved in the 2001 final played in Spain.

Eight teams

Galán Nieto, at 44, is the oldest of the referees while Russia's Anton Averianov, at 31, is the youngest. The eight-team finals will be played in Ostrava, Czech Republic between 14 and 20 February, with the hosts joined by holders Italy, Spain, Russia, Ukraine, Portugal, Hungary and the Netherlands.

High honour

Four of the referees have also been given the honour of officiating at the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship finals, beginning on 21 November. Galán Nieto and Török will be joined in Chinese Taipei by the respected Massimo Cumbo of Italy and Jyrki Filppu of Finland. Victor van Helvoirt of the Netherlands will also be involved in the FIFA event.

2005 UEFA European Futsal Championship

14-20 February

Referees

Anton Averianov (RUS)
Silvo Borosak (SLO)
Massimo Cumbo (ITA)
Antonio Jose Fernandes Cardoso (POR)
Jyrki Filppu (FIN)
Pedro Ángel Galán Nieto (ESP)
Christian Hauben (BEL)
Zbigniew Kosmala (POL)
Radek Lobo (CZE)
Ivan Novak (CRO)
Károly Török (HUN)
Antonius van Eekelen (NED)