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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Willie Collum set for referee world first as Scottish whistler will be subbed ON

Referee Willie Collum will take part in a unique first when he will only officiate 85 minutes of a game so he can honour a Turkish colleague.

Collum will take charge of Turkey's friendly against Czech Republic in Gaziantep, just days after Scotland crashed to a 2-1 defeat.
But he will come on a referee substitute in the game after five minutes before the Turkish FA have been given special permission by FIFA to pay tribute to their most famous official, Cuneyt Cakır, who has announced his retirement after 21 years as a whistler.

Cakir, 45, will be handed a special presentation then allowed to referee the first five minutes of the game to fulfill his ambition to take charge of a Turkey match. He will then hand over to Collum, who will referee the rest of the friendly in what is a first in world football.
Cakir said: "Every profession has to end one day, but this is an incredible gesture from our association and from FIFA fort allowing this to happen.

"My biggest ambition was to referee at a World Cup and I am glad I did that."

Cakir was in charge of the Champions League Final in 2015 and has been to two World Cups and two European Championships.

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