International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) named German referee Markus Merk as the best referee of the 21st century. Howard Webb came as the best Premier League referee, as he completes the top ten.

With 135 points, the already retired Markus Merk was ranked 1st IFFHS list of the best referees of the 21st century, with Uruguayan Jorge Larrionda (108 points) and Colombian Oscar Ruiz, (104 points) as runners-up.

The Top 10 offers some more familiar referee names, such as the Belgium Frank De Bleeckere (98 points), Swiss Massimo Bussacca, Slovenian Lubos Michel, both with 96 points and English Howard Webb with 80 points, Footballz.com reported.