Monday 29 August, 2005
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Referee Pierluigi Collina has blown the final whistle on his career by announcing his shock retirement following a sponsorship row.
The official, widely regarded as the world’s best, quit the Italian Referees’ Association and subsequently the Italian game this morning.
"After 28 years, I have decided to hand in my resignation," said the man in black. "It is something that I could not avoid.
"There would have been no problem for me to work in Serie B but it would have been useless to carry on when there is no faith in you.
"If a referee is not believed then it is only right that he leaves, that is why I am going. At the end of the day I think everybody is losing out."
Collina has decided to walk despite getting special clearance to continue for one more year – after reaching the maximum age of 45.
However, Collina courted controversy this summer after signing a sponsorship deal with car manufacturers Opel – the same company who back Milan.
That raised a conflict of interests issue and Collina was not assigned any of the opening round of Serie A matches.
It was thought that he would be demoted to the Serie B championship until Monday’s shock announcement.
Collina also insisted that Tulio Lanese, head of the Association, was aware of the whole situation.
"Lanese knew everything about the contract," continued the Viareggio referee. "He even congratulated me on it."
Whispers now suggest that Collina, who took charge of the 2002 World Cup Final, may now work abroad – with the Premiership a possible destination.
同ac米蘭簽左同樣既讚助商既利益衝突下
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發表於 2005-8-29 19:55:56
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發表於 2005-8-29 20:04:36
