Referees appointed for first Euro 2012 matches

Carlos Velasco Carballo from Spain will take charge of the first match of Euro 2012 between co-hosts Poland and Greece, European football's governing body UEFA said on Wednesday.

The tournament curtain-raiser kicks off in the Polish capital Warsaw at 6:00 pm local time (1600 GMT) and will be followed by the second Group A game between Russia and the Czech Republic in Wroclaw.

England's Howard Webb - who refereed the ill-tempered 2010 World Cup final - will be in the middle for that game.

UEFA said in a statement that Damir Skomina of Slovenia will officiate the Netherlands first game in Group B against Denmark on Saturday in Kharkiv, Ukraine, while Stephane Lannoy of France will take charge of the Germany-Portugal match in Lviv.

Twelve referees have been appointed to handle the 31 matches in the tournament. They will work with 24 assistant referees and 24 additional assistant referees of the same nationality.