FIFA PUTS WORLD CUP FINAL REF WEBB ON BRAZIL LIST

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA selected World Cup final referee Howard Webb as one of the 25 who will officiate at this year's tournament in Brazil.

Webb, who showed 14 yellow cards and one red in a bad-tempered Spain vs. Netherland final in 2010, was selected ahead of fellow Englishman Mark Clattenburg.

Each referee was chosen with his regular team of two assistants.

FIFA says a further eight referees and eight assistants will go to Brazil as reserves.

FIFA says referees were picked "on their personality and their quality in football understanding by being able to read the game and the teams' tactical approaches towards each game."

Europe provides nine of the 25 officiating teams, South America has five, Asia four, Africa and the CONCACAF region three each and Oceania one.

A referee and his assistants can still be dropped from duty if they fail a fitness test before the June 12 kickoff.