Pierluigi Collina

Pierluigi Collina
Ilya Khokhlov · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Pierluigi Collina
Birth date	13 February 1960
Birth place	Bologna, Italy
Occupation	Football referee, sports official
Years active	1988–2005

Pierluigi Collina was an Italian football referee known for his authoritative presence and distinctive appearance. He officiated at major international tournaments including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, and UEFA Champions League, earning recognition from organizations such as FIFA and UEFA. Collina's career intersected with clubs like AC Milan, Real Madrid CF, Manchester United F.C., and national teams including Italy national football team, Germany national football team, and Argentina national football team.

Early life and education

Collina was born in Bologna and grew up during the era of figures like Giovanni Ginzburg and institutions such as the University of Bologna, where many Italian referees have studied. He completed education in economics and trained in fields associated with sports medicine, drawing on expertise from centers linked to CONI and collaborations with UEFA Training Centre programs. His early development included involvement with regional entities such as Lega Nazionale Professionisti and local clubs in the Serie B and Serie C systems.

Refereeing career

Collina began refereeing in domestic competitions including Serie C and Serie A, progressing through appointments by FIGC and selection for international panels under UEFA and FIFA. He officiated high-profile matches in tournaments like the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and the UEFA Euro 2000, as well as finals in the UEFA Champions League and the Coppa Italia. Notable fixtures included clashes involving Juventus F.C., Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, and he was appointed to matches at venues associated with Stadio San Siro, Wembley Stadium, and the Camp Nou. Throughout his career Collina worked alongside assistants and refereeing teams from federations such as the English Football Association, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, and the German Football Association.

Style, reputation, and notable decisions

Collina's refereeing style combined strict enforcement typical of officials in the lineage of Arnaldo Tamberi with psychological command akin to figures in sports psychology linked to institutions such as UEFA Technical Observers. He became renowned for decisive calls in encounters featuring players like Zinédine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Ronaldo Nazário, making impactful decisions that influenced outcomes in competitions governed by FIFA disciplinary code and UEFA competition regulations. His reputation for integrity earned endorsements from media outlets including BBC Sport, La Gazzetta dello Sport, and L'Equipe, while prompting debate in forums connected to The Guardian and Der Spiegel. Controversial or pivotal moments involved penalty awards, red cards, and match-control rulings in matches associated with the UEFA Cup and domestic derbies like Derby della Madonnina and El Clásico.

Post-retirement roles and media work

After retiring from on-field duties Collina held roles within governance and adjudication structures such as FIFA Referees Committee, UEFA Referees Committee, and advisory positions for continental confederations including CONMEBOL. He acted as a referee designator, instructor, and consultant for professional referees involved with associations like the Scottish Football Association, the Football Association (England), and the Turkish Football Federation. Collina also appeared as a pundit and analyst for broadcasters including Sky Sports, RAI, and ESPN, contributed to refereeing seminars at FIFA Technical Centre events, and participated in campaigns with organizations such as UEFA Foundation for Children.

Personal life and honours

Collina has had interactions with medical specialists from institutions like Mauro Scaramella-affiliated clinics and maintained residence ties to the Metropolitan City of Bologna. Honors and awards include recognition from bodies such as FIFA, UEFA, and national orders similar to decorations given by the Italian Republic. He has received listings and accolades from publications including World Soccer magazine, listings by panels such as the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, and has been invited as a keynote at events hosted by entities like the European Commission and Nazionale Italiana Artists-linked cultural forums.

Category:Italian football referees Category:1960 births Category:Living people