Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev is preparing to officiate the anticipated match between Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli and Vissel Kobe, as part of the AFC Champions League semi-finals for the elite.

He is expected to have a significant presence at this summit, given his extensive experience and ability to handle decisive matches.

Tantchev is 42 years old and has held a refereeing record since 2012, which has given him extensive experience in managing continental matches.

During his career, he officiated around 300 matches, gaining cumulative experience in handling pressures and challenges on the field.

His numbers reflect his strict style, having issued 1,237 yellow cards and 78 red cards, clearly indicating his commitment to enforcing discipline.

He also awarded 104 penalty kicks, which confirms his accuracy in reading situations within the penalty area and his readiness to make decisive decisions without hesitation.

His experience is expected to play a significant role in setting the pace of the match, especially given the importance of the game, which will determine one of the finalists in the Asian championship.