PR Dasmunsi named Match Commissioner for Spain-Tunisia tie

New Delhi, June 18 (UNI) All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi earned a rare distinction as FIFA named him the Match Commissioner for tomorrow's Spain-Tunisia World Cup tie at Stuttgart.

According to an AIFF release here today, Mr Dasmunsi, also the Information and Broadcasting Minister, is the first Indian to be accorded the honour.

''This is a rare distinction bestowed on an Indian administrator,'' the release said.

The AIFF chief has been member of the FIFA Technical Study Group for the 1995 Women World Cup in Sweden and officiated as a Match Commissioner in the 1999 edition of the women's tournament in the US.

He served special duties at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France -- first Indian to do so -- and again in the previous chapter of the soccer extravaganza in Korea-Japan.

He was also Chief de Mission of the Indian contingent at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

UNI AY RL KN1630