Referee Matvey Zaika has become the youngest head referee in the top division of Russian football and the Russian Premier League (RPL).

The first round of the Alfa-Bank RPL match between “Dynamo” and Samara's “Krylia Sovetov” took place in Moscow. 24-year-old Zaika was appointed as the referee.

Last season, Zaika refereed 10 matches in the Paris First League, officiated another six matches in the Second League, and two in the FONBET Russian Cup, according to Sports.ru.

Commenting on his appointment, the referee stated that age is irrelevant at the professional level and that the referee, not the players or coaches, is the most important person on the field.