21 Jun 2014

NZ refs in action in Brazil

11:57 am on 21 June 2014

A trio of New Zealand football officials have been named to control the Nigeria-Bosnia-Herzegovina match on Sunday at the World Cup in Brazil.

Referee Peter O'Leary will be at the helm of the trio for the group F match in Cuiaba along with New Zealand assistant referees Mark Rule and Jan Hendrik Hintz.

It is the first appearance for O'Leary and his assistants at the 2014 World Cup, although he was engaged as a fourth official for the group E game between France and Honduras.

The 42-year-old worked as a fourth official at the 2010 World Cup, and he holds a number of appearance records in FIFA competitions.

O'Leary has accumulated the most participations (five between 2007 and 2012) and refereed the most matches (five) in the FIFA Club World Cup. He has also taken part in four editions of the FIFA U-20 World Cup (from 2007 to 2013).