Top German ref Merk to take charge of Ireland-Switzerland game

TOP German official, Markus Merk will referee the Republic of Ireland’s potentially decisive final World Cup Group 4 qualifier against Switzerland next month. He will be assisted by compatriots Christian Schraer, Jan-Hendrik Salver and Knut Kircher (fourth official).

Hungarian officials will be in control of the Republic’s clash in Cyprus four days earlier on October 8.

Viktor Kassai will referee, assisted by Gabor Eros, Attila Kelemen and Attila Hanacsek.

Meanwhile, UEFA are set to reform the Intertoto Cup to give more clubs a chance to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Under the current system, the three clubs who progress furthest in the Intertoto Cup go into the UEFA Cup’s final qualifying round.

UEFA’s executive committee meet in Rome tomorrow to consider letting the 11 best-performing sides into the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup, and for a maximum of one club per country to enter the Intertoto Cup.