Valentin Ivanov to referee Perspolise-Esteghlal Derby

Niloufar Momeni

IranSportsPress: After weeks of negotiating with Top European referees such as Collina and Frisk, according to Iran's Football Federation in corporation with Iran's Embassy in Russia, 44 years old Russian International Referee, Valentin Ivanov is set to whistle Perspolise vs Esteghlal Derby game on Friday.

It is expected to see 2 other International Assistant Referee accompany Ivanov but their names are not released yet.
Ali Khosravi is going to be the big game's 4th referee.

Reza Ghiasi, head of Officials' committee in IFF, told reporters about Ivanov and his assistants's pay to be $500 per day.

Valentin Ivanov will arrive in Tehran through Turkey one day prior to the Match and will leave Iran on Friday night.

A Physical Education teacher by profession, Valentin Ivanov began refereeing in 1989,soon became Russia's top-division referee and joined the FIFA international list in 1997.

The FIFA Confederations' Cup Final between Cameroon and France, European/South American Cup match between CA Boca Juniors and AC Milan, Champions League match between Inter Milan and Valencia, Manchester United and FC Porto,Milan and Inter, AC Roma and Real Madrid, Euro 2004 match between England and Switzerland and Euro 2004's Quarter Final between Czetch Rep and Denmark, are part of his reputation as one of FIFA's top referees.

However, he has been suspended twice in his career in Russian League. Latest incident happened on June 2003 when he was suspended for watching a video replay of a disputed goal to ensure he made the right decision. He first awarded a goal and then disallowed it after viewing a replay at the side of the pitch during Russian Cup match between FC Anzhi Makhackala and FC Rostov. His second suspension happened after making two blunders that contributed to a CSKA Moscow win over Spartak Moscow in a Premier League match. 

The Derby game between Esteghlal vs Perspolise is on Friday Feb 25th.