• First Englishman to oversee final since 1974 • Webb's team have impressed throughout tournament

This article is more than 10 years old

This article is more than 10 years old

England's Howard Webb will be the referee for the World Cup final. The 38-year-old from Rotherham has been chosen for the final by Fifa's referees committee.

Webb and his assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey will officiate in the final on Sunday between Spain and Holland at Johannesburg's Soccer City.

He will become the first Englishman to referee the final since Jack Taylor in 1974.

It was expected that Webb, who turns 39 three days after the 11 July final, would be handed the honour after he was overlooked for the semi-finals of the competition.

Webb's team have not put a foot wrong in the tournament so far. Cann correctly ruled out a Fabio Quagliarella equaliser for Italy against Slovakia while Mullarkey was praised for his decision to allow Luís Fabiano's goal for Brazil against Chile.