Howard Webb has achieved a lifetime's dream after he was appointed referee of the FA Cup final on May 30 between Everton and Chelsea.
The 37-year-old - who last year received death threats from irate Polish fans for awarding Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria a late penalty which they converted to force a 1-1 draw - said it was hard to believe he had been chosen. "When I started out as a referee 20 years ago the FA Cup final was the absolute pinnacle even though it was a very distant dream," he said.
"It was very unlikely to ever happen, but that it has is the realisation of a dream and I'm thrilled to bits." Webb - who has handed out just five red cards this season in 39 matches - was fourth official at the 2007 final and took charge of the semi-final between West Brom and Portsmouth last year. Webb, who was in charge for Liverpool's thriller with Arsenal last night, admitted in January he had experienced the lowest moment of his career. During the Birmingham Wolves FA Cup tie he inadvertently deflected a pass by Birmingham's Radhi Jaidi to Wolves striker Andy Keogh which led to Sam Vokes scoring - Wolves won the match 2-0. "You want the world to swallow you up at that moment," he said at the time.
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