SEOUL, May 25: Referee Ali Bujsaim has been named to take charge of the opening World Cup match between defending champions France and Senegal on May 31.

The 43-year-old immigration officer from the United Arab Emirates is one of the most experienced referees here, having taken part in two previous World Cups.

The linemen will be Ali Treifi from Saudi Arabia and Jorge Rattalino of Argentina.

Bujsaim refereed five of the World Cup qualifiers, including the Uruguay-Australia play-off for the final spot.

Michel Zen-Ruffinen, FIFA general secretary, said earlier that both Uruguay and Australia would recieve a special payment of 75,000 US dollars each to help meet the expenses of their play-off match for the last spot in the Korea-Japan World Cup.

Israel and Austria were awarded 45,000 US dollars each to help cover the expenses of their World Cup qualifier that had to be postponed.—AFP