Pablo Pozo

Pablo Pozo, born on March twenty-seventh, nineteen seventy-three, is a distinguished former Chilean football referee known for his significant contributions to the sport. His career reached remarkable heights when he officiated at the prestigious Beijing Olympics in two thousand eight and the FIFA Club World Cup held in Japan.

In two thousand ten, Pozo made history by becoming the first Chilean referee to officiate at a FIFA World Cup since Mario Sanchez Yanten's participation in the nineteen ninety-eight tournament in France. Although he was initially slated to referee the first-round match between Algeria and Slovenia in Johannesburg on June thirteenth, an unfortunate injury forced him to withdraw, leading FIFA to appoint Carlos Batres from Guatemala as his replacement.

However, Pozo's World Cup journey continued as he was designated to officiate the Group G match between Portugal and Korea DPR at Cape Town Stadium on June twenty-first. Just three days later, he took charge of another Group E game featuring Cameroon and the Netherlands at the same venue, showcasing his resilience and dedication to the sport.

After a commendable career, Pablo Pozo officiated his final match on December nineteenth, two thousand ten, between Audax Italiano and Unión Española, marking the end of an era for a referee who left an indelible mark on Chilean football.