Tasnim - Mohsen Torki, Iran football's high-profile match official, has retired as a referee at the age of 43.
Mohsen Torki, who was the first Iranian referee to officiate the Tehran derby between Persepolis and Esteghlal after 14 years, announced his retirement on Tuesday.
He started to officiate in the top league in Iran in 2000 and after just three years he became a FIFA listed referee. In 2007 Torki became an AFC Elite referee.
In 2006 he refereed his first game in the AFC Champions League between Al-Arabi and Al Quwa Al Jawiya and in 2007 he officiated an AFC Cup semi-final.
During the 2008-09 season Torki officiated four games in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifications.
He also officiated four games in the group stage of the 2009 AFC Champions League but the biggest test of Torki's career came in the 66th Tehran derby when he became the first Iranian referee to officiate the game in 14 years.