A FENLAND referee today praised FIFA for asking Howard Webb to take charge of the World Cup final.

Robert Windle of Whittlesey, chairman of the Peterborough Referees’ Association, said that Webb “fully deserves his appointment to the biggest game in world football.”

A year ago Webb was in Whittlesey as guest of Mr Windle in between refereeing a Cambridgeshire Schools Cup Final in the afternoon and a guest speaker event in the evening.

“Webb travelled down after refereeing Manchester United and Tottenham two days previous to spend a full day in Cambridgeshire,” said Mr Windle.

“He got home after midnight only to be at Manchester airport the next morning at 7.30am to officiate in the UEFA cup Semi-Final in Germany.

“Peterborough youngsters William Capes, Sam Tibbett and Michael Dunkley (4th Official) acted as assistants little knowing that 12 months down the line Webb would referee the FA Cup Final, UEFA Champions League and then the World Cup Final.”

Mr Windle said of the World Cup referee that “his dedication, preparation and willingness to help young or inexperienced referees and to make an effort to travel over 250 miles to referee a schools match and talk to others is something that multi millionaire footballers could learn from and if they were just as focused and had the same passion the street flags would still be waving”.