In an interview with AFP’s Arabic service, Bin Hammam said: “Asian referees did a great job in the World Cup and proved the level of development for referees in Asia.

“Everyone, including FIFA, agrees on the fact that Asian referees have improved a lot,” he added.

Uzbekistan’s Ravshan Irmatov, who had officiated in four matches so far, including the opener between South Africa and Mexico, has been put in charge of Uruguay-Netherlands semi-final to be played on Tuesday.

Japan’s Yuichi Nishimura officiated the quarter-final between Brazil and Netherlands while Saudi Arabia’s Khalil Al Ghamdi and Malaysian Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh served with distinction in South Africa.