A team of football referees from Uzbekistan has been appointed to officiate the friendly match between the national teams of Russia and Mali. This was announced by the Russian Football Union (RFU) on its official website. The refereeing team includes chief referee Rustam Lutfullin, assistants Sanjar Shayusupov and Akmal Giyosov, with Russian official Alexey Sukhoy serving as the reserve referee.

The 34-year-old Rustam Lutfullin regularly officiates matches in the Uzbekistan Championship and Cup, and is also active in international competitions. In 2025, he refereed three group stage matches at the U-17 Youth World Championship, and a year earlier, four matches in the Asian World Cup qualifiers, highlighting his growing experience on the global stage.

This marks the second instance of Uzbek referees participating in a match involving the Russian national team. In March, the match between Russia and Nicaragua (3:1) was officiated by an Uzbek team led by Abdurashid Khudoyberganov. This development underscores the regional recognition of Uzbekistan's refereeing school amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The match is scheduled for March 31 in Saint Petersburg, starting at 20:00 Moscow time. This friendly is part of Russia's preparation for future tournaments, though its effectiveness remains questionable given the country's international isolation in sports.

Concurrently, Uzbekistan is establishing a Football Referees Academy aimed at reducing human factor influence and increasing transparency in officiating. This initiative is part of broader efforts to develop football in the country and align it with international standards, reflecting a strategic move to enhance its sports infrastructure.

Source: podrobno.uz