Pierluigi Collina
Pierluigi Collina (born 13 February 1960) is an Italian former football referee widely regarded as one of the best in the sport's history. He was named the World's Best Referee six consecutive times from 1998 to 2003 and officiated numerous high-profile matches, including Serie A, Champions League, and international tournaments. After retiring in 2005, he became head of UEFA's referees commission in 2010 and chairman of the FIFA referees committee in 2017, continuing to influence global refereeing standards.
Political Leaning
Timeline
2005 resignation over advertising conflict
Collina resigned as a Serie A referee in August 2005 after being relegated to Serie B due to a sponsorship deal with an automobile manufacturer that conflicted with the league's Opel sponsor, prompting his departure from top-level refereeing.
2026 WM VAR decision criticism
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup round-of-16 match between Germany and Paraguay, Collina defended the VAR decision to disallow a goal by Jonathan Tah, drawing criticism from German coach Julian Nagelsmann who called it a "full scandal".
FIFA Referees Committee (Chairman)
Pierluigi Collina is affiliated with FIFA Referees Committee (Chairman).
UEFA Referees Committee (Head)
Pierluigi Collina is affiliated with UEFA Referees Committee (Head).
Italian Football Referees Association (AIA) (Consultant)
Pierluigi Collina is affiliated with Italian Football Referees Association (AIA) (Consultant).
Football Federation of Ukraine (Head of Referees since 2010)
Pierluigi Collina is affiliated with Football Federation of Ukraine (Head of Referees since 2010).