All eyes on World Cup referee

THE youngest referee for a World Cup qualifier involving the Republic of Ireland will be in charge when Cyprus host Brian Kerr’s team in Nicosia on Saturday.

And if Hungary’s Viktor Kassai, who turned 30 three weeks ago, continues where he left off when booking six players and sending off one during Bosnia-Herzegovina’s win against Lithuania last month, Stephen Carr, Kenny Cunningham, John O’Shea, Kevin Kilbane and Damien Duff risk missing the Group Four showdown with Switzerland at Lansdowne Road next week.

A FIFA referee since 2003, Mr Kassai has brandished 13 yellow cards and one red during three World Cup qualifying matches in the current campaign.