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No British referees picked to officiate at World Cup in Russia

No British refs picked for Russia World Cup
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FIFA's referee list for the 2018 World Cup in Russia does not feature a single British referee for the first time since 1938.

The 2018 World Cup will be the first edition for 80 years which will not feature a single British referee.

FIFA has appointed 36 referees and 63 assistant referees as match officials for the tournament in Russia, but there will be none from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales.

The absence of British officials makes Russia 2018 the first World Cup since 1938 without representation from the four home nations.

Mark Clattenburg had been included in the pre-selected group drawn up by FIFA in 2016 and was involved in training for the tournament in Russia.

However, the 43-year-old forfeited his place when he left the Premier League and became head of refereeing for the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

The Football Association went on to ask the world football governing body to replace Clattenburg with another official but it rejected the request.

Howard Webb was the only British official at the World Cup in 2010 - when he took charge of the final between Spain and the Netherlands in South Africa - and in 2014.

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Giuseppe Labellarte
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Referee Mark Clattenburg in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and West Ham United at Craven Cottage on January 1, 2014
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