Japanese official for FA Cup game

Japanese referee Masaaki Toma will become the first non-British official to take charge of an FA Cup fixture on Saturday.Toma is in the UK as part of a referee exchange programme and has been selected to officiate the first round match between Brentford and Basingstoke.As part of the programme Toma, who was referee when England played Mexico in a friendly last year, has already taken on a reserve team clash between Bolton and Sunderland as well as a Conference North fixture.Chairman of the FA's Referees Committee, David Elleray, said: "Masaaki Toma is a world-class referee and his appointment shows that the FA Cup really does hold global appeal."

Source: PA