6 Things You Don’t Know About Referee For Nigeria Vs Argentina Game

World football governing body, FIFA on Sunday revealed the identity of the centre referee in Tuesday’s make-or-mar encounter between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Albiceleste of Argentina in the ongoing 2018 World Cup.

The game, which will be played at the St Petersburg Stadium by 7pm Nigerian time, is the last group D match as Croatia vs Iceland will also hold simultaneously.


The Herald brings you six quick facts about the referee:

*He is 41-year-old Turkish national Cuneyt      Cakir.
*He officiated Argentina’s semi-final clash      against Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup    which Argentina won 4-2 on penalties.
*On 24 April 2012, he officiated the       Champions League semifinal between FC   Barcelona and Chelsea at Camp Nou,   Barcelona. Çakır sent off John Terry in first   half. Chelsea won 3-2 on aggregate,             although the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
*Çakır officiated the 2015 UEFA Champions    league Final match between Juventus vs.   Barcelona which the Catalans won.
*In all Lionel Messi has never lost a game   refereed by Cakir, and there have been   eight of such games.
*He has refereed more than 250 games in   the Turkish Super Liga.