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.

Former school teacher Webb has refereed three matches in this World Cup so far, starting off with Spain’s shock defeat by Switzerland.

There was some unhappiness in Spain but Webb’s team really impressed in Italy v Slovakia where Cann was spot on with a tight call to rule out a Fabio Quagliarella equaliser.

In the first knock-out round match between Brazil and Chile, Mullarkey was praised for his decision to allow Luis Fabiano’s goal while Chile defenders were claiming offside.