Daniele Orsato

Daniele Orsato
Name	Daniele Orsato
Birth date	1975-11-23
Birth place	Schio, Italy
Occupation	Football referee
Years active	2004–present
Nationality	Italian

Daniele Orsato is an Italian professional football referee who has officiated at domestic, European, and international levels, including Serie A, UEFA Champions League, and FIFA World Cup tournaments. Known for his role in high-profile matches involving clubs such as Juventus, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, and AC Milan, he has been appointed to major finals and international fixtures by organizations including UEFA and FIFA. Orsato's career has intersected with prominent players, coaches, and administrators from clubs like Inter Milan, Chelsea F.C., Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Early life and education

Born in Schio, Province of Vicenza, Orsato grew up in the Veneto region where local clubs such as Vicenza Calcio and Hellas Verona influenced his early interest in football alongside exposure to Italian referees like Pierluigi Collina and Gianluca Rocchi. He trained with regional refereeing bodies affiliated to the Italian Football Federation and progressed through levels managed by Lega Nazionale Professionisti, receiving mentorship connected to figures from Serie B and Serie C circuits. Orsato combined refereeing with education and early employment before becoming a full-time official, aligning with pathways used by referees who later reached UEFA and FIFA accreditation.

Refereeing career

Orsato began officiating in lower tiers of Italian football, advancing through competitions such as Serie C and Coppa Italia before making his Serie A debut, where he encountered clubs like AS Roma and Lazio. After gaining Italian top-flight experience, he was added to the FIFA international referees list and began overseeing matches under UEFA jurisdiction, including UEFA Europa League fixtures and UEFA Super Cup appointments. His career has involved collaboration with assistant referees and video match officials drawn from panels used by IFAB, UEFA Referees Committee, and FIFA Referees Committee, working in tournaments contested by national teams including Italy national football team, England national football team, Spain national football team, and Germany national football team.

Major matches and tournaments officiated

Orsato has been assigned to high-profile club fixtures in the UEFA Champions League, including knockout ties featuring Manchester City, Liverpool F.C., Real Madrid CF, FC Bayern Munich, and Juventus F.C., and has refereed important matches in qualifiers for the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA World Cup. He was selected to officiate at the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament and participated in matches involving nations such as Portugal national football team, France national football team, Belgium national football team, and Netherlands national football team. At club level he took charge of the UEFA Champions League Final and other decisive fixtures involving teams like Chelsea F.C., Paris Saint-Germain F.C., Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, and Inter Milan. Orsato's appointments have also included matches organized by CONMEBOL and intercontinental fixtures where clubs from La Liga, Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 competed.

Awards and recognition

Orsato has received recognition within refereeing circles and sporting media for consistent performance in competitions overseen by UEFA and FIFA, earning appointments analogous to awards granted by organizations such as the Italian Football Federation and panels referencing the IFFHS rankings. His assignments to finals and major tournament rosters reflect endorsements from bodies including the UEFA Referees Committee and the FIFA Referees Committee, bringing him into discussions alongside peers like Mark Clattenburg, Howard Webb, Björn Kuipers, Cüneyt Çakır, and Felix Brych. Professional accolades in football officiating are also tied to recognition from national leagues like Serie A and institutions such as the European Club Association.

Controversies and notable decisions

Orsato's career has included controversial and widely debated decisions that drew attention from broadcasters such as Sky Sports, BT Sport, RAI, ESPN, and beIN Sports, and commentary from former players and managers like José Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Massimiliano Allegri, and Diego Simeone. High-profile incidents have prompted reviews by disciplinary bodies in UEFA and FIFA, video analysis using protocols from the Video Assistant Referee system introduced by IFAB, and media scrutiny from outlets including The Guardian, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, Marca, and L'Équipe. Debates over specific calls have seen intervention from national federations such as the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the Football Association, and the Italian Football Federation, and have spurred discussions within forums among referees who trained under instructors associated with UEFA's Technical Observers and FIFA's Match Officials Programme.

Personal life and interests

Off the field, Orsato has familial ties in Veneto and participates in community and refereeing development activities connected to regional organizations such as the Associazione Italiana Arbitri. He has engaged with initiatives promoting referee education alongside former referees and instructors from institutions like UEFA Coaching Convention and has appeared at events with figures from CONI and Italian sporting bodies. In his leisure time he maintains interests common among football professionals, including following matches in competitions like Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, FIFA Club World Cup, and international fixtures featuring national teams such as Argentina national football team and Brazil national football team.

Category:Italian football referees Category:People from Schio