Collina follows FIFA World Cup work by stepping down from UEFA roles
NYON/ZURICH: Pierluigi Collina has had to concede that even he cannot do two jobs at once writes KEIR RADNEDGE.
The former World Cup Final referee has handed over his role as chief refereeing officer of European federation to fellow Italian Roberto Rosetti
Collina, who chairs the refereeing committee of world governing body FIFA, announced his decision to step down “for personal reasons” at the UEFA summer refereeing course in Nyon.
The 58-year-0ld, who retired from refereeing in 2005, was appointed as UEFA’s first CRO in 2010 by then president Michel Platini. This involved defending the additional assistant referee system which Platini preferred to goal-line technology.
However, since taking up a FIFA role Collina has found himself leading the work to make a success of not merely goal-line technology but the video assistant referee system which was a success at recent World Cup finals in Russia.
UEFA has decided that it is not ready to introduce VAR for the Champions League this coming season.
A UEFA statement credited Collina with the establishment of the Centre of Refereeing Excellence and the development of the 360-degree monitoring and development programmes for officials to improve their technical, fitness and nutrition standards and ensure that tactical elements and knowledge of teams became part of the referees’ preparation for every match.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said: “Pierluigi brought the same vision, understanding and flair to his role at UEFA that he demonstrated in the matches he refereed. I wish to thank him for his commitment during these years and for what he has brought to European football.”
Collina said: “I am very proud of the results achieved together with my fellow refereeing officers and the UEFA referees’ committee. I wish to thank UEFA for the strong support given to refereeing in these years and also all the match officials for their full commitment.”
Rosetti was an international referee from 2002 up to his retirement in 2010. The highlight of his career came during UEFA Euro 2008, where he refereed the opening match between Switzerland and the Czech Republic, as well as the final which saw Spain win the tournament against Germany.
The 50-year-old Rosetti was heavily involved in implementing VAR in Russia where he had previously spent two years as the country’s head of refereeing. In accepting the post of chief refereeing officer, Rosetti will also become chair of the referees’ committee.
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