Pierluigi Collina

Pierluigi Collina has become synonymous with fairness, respect, and integrity in the world of football. Renowned for his authoritative presence and piercing gaze, he became an iconic figure in football officiating.

A graduate in economics and a former financial consultant, Collina began refereeing in 1977 and made his Serie A debut in 1991. Over the course of his domestic career, he officiated 240 Serie A matches, including key fixtures featuring top Italian clubs such as Juventus, Internazionale, A.C. Milan, and Roma. Collina’s international career was equally distinguished, with 109 matches officiated across major tournaments. Career highlights include refereeing the 2002 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, the 1996 Olympic final, the 1999 UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich, and the 2004 UEFA Cup final.

Among his many accolades, Collina was named FIFA’s World’s Best Referee a record six consecutive times. He also received several prestigious national awards, including the Giorgio Bernardi Trophy (1992), the Generoso Dattilo Award (1997), and the Giovanni Mauro Award (1999). He was inducted into the Referee Hall of Fame in 2011 and was awarded an honorary science degree by the University of Hull in recognition of his contributions to sport.

After retiring from active officiating, Collina transitioned into leadership roles, serving as Chairman of the Serie A referees (2006–2010), Chief Refereeing Officer at UEFA, and currently, Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee. He has been a strong advocate for innovation in officiating, notably supporting the integration of technologies such as VAR to enhance the fairness and accuracy of the game.

In 2003, he published his autobiography, Le mie regole del gioco (The Rules of the Game), which became a bestseller. Known for his insights into leadership, discipline, and decision-making under pressure, Collina is a respected voice both within and beyond the world of football. He remains active in promoting integrity in sport and frequently participates in charity events such as Soccer Aid.