Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Uzbekistan's Abdukhamidullo Rasulov has been named the AFC Assistant Referee of the Year for the second time, with the 2011 winner edging out Bakhadyr Kochkarov from Kyrgyzstan and Australian official Matt Cream.
Rasulov had the honour of participating in the first match of hosts Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympic Games when the 36-year-old, along with fellow nominee Kochkarov, assisted compatriot Ravshan Irmatov in Team GB's curtain raiser at Old Trafford against Senegal.
The trio also officiated in the group stage match between Mexico and Switzerland before Rasulov and company fittingly ended their Olympic campaign with the all-Asian bronze medal match between Korea Republic and Japan.
Rasulov was also heavily involved in the 2012 AFC Champions League, assisting in five matches in the group stage of this year's edition of Asia's premier club competition, and ran the line in the games between Iran and Qatar and Japan versus Oman in the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking after receiving his second AFC Assistant Referee of the Year award from Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, AFC Executive Committee Member and Chairman of the AFC Legal Committee, Rasulov said:
"It's a huge award and it's all because of the work the FA has done for Uzbek football over the years.
"You can be a good referee when there is a good and structured competition. Uzbek football has taken a giant stride over the past few years and even the referees are reaping the rewards from it.
"We have a separate referees department which is totally focused on educational courses and referee fitness issues. There is also a referees committee also who always guide us and provide feedback on our performances which enable us to maintain top level in the games."