England’s Howard Webb, the World Cup final referee

England’s Howard Webb will referee Sunday’s World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain at Johannesburg’s Soccer City, FIFA said on Thursday.

The 39-year-old from Rotherham, in nothern England, has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2005 and the former policeman regularly keeps law and order amongst the top stars of England’s Premier League.

Webb is the first Englishman to referee the final since Jack Taylor in 1974.

He has refereed three World Cup matches in South Africa and has neither shown a red card nor awarded a penalty.

However, Webb has handed out an average of 5.67 bookings per games in South Africa – the second highest tally in tournament.

Webb will be assisted by countrymen Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey for the July 11 match at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

Benito Archundia of Mexico will referee the third-place match between Uruguay and Germany on July 10. He’ll be assisted by Marvin Torrentera of Mexico and Canada’s Hector Vergara.