Pierluigi Collina is one of the most recognised celebrities on the planet. He has refereed at the highest level including the 2002 World Cup Final and the 1999 Champions League Final plus countless World Cup and international matches, as well as in Serie A in his native Italy. He is... Read more
Pierluigi Collina is one of the most recognised celebrities on the planet. He has refereed at the highest level including the 2002 World Cup Final and the 1999 Champions League Final plus countless World Cup and international matches, as well as in Serie A in his native Italy.
He is uniquely respected by the players, managers and fans where his calm authority and sense of fair play under great pressure made him the best in the world′s most popular sport. After his retirement in 2005 Collina chaired the Serie A referees from 2007 to 2010, then he moved to UEFA where he worked as Chief Refereeing Officer and Chairman of the Referees Committee until 2018. He is currently the Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee.
An economics graduate (cum laude) from the University of Bologna, Pierluigi Collina was a financial consultant by profession (Italian League referee was not a full-time position). As well as the awards he has collected on the pitch, Collina has been honoured around the world for his achievements. These honours include the Commendatore dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana bestowed upon him in 2003 and a Doctorate “Honoris Causa” in Science by the University of Hull in 2004.
Outside of his football and professional life, Pierluigi Collina is an energetic champion of good causes. He was International Red Cross’ ambassador for the campaign “Children in war” in 2004, and FIFA Ambassador for the SOS Italia Children Villages.
He is the author of the book “The Rules of the Game”, published in Italy in 2003 and translated in more than 10 different languages and 20 countries.
Collina explains in meticulous detail how he became an official and what it takes to be the best and stay the best. He has a simple creed as relevant to business as refereeing: work hard to be successful and be always one step forward as knowing everything about what you are going to do is crucial to take the correct decision.
His presentations are inspirational and filled with anecdotes and humour. Often under the spotlight of the world′s media, Pierluigi Collina is highly professional and is used to dealing with the pressures of a live audience.