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Retired Collina to go to Japanese league
TOKYO: Pierluigi Collina, arguably the world's best football referee, who abruptly announced his retirement last week, will be asked to officiate in the Japanese professional league, a press report said yesterday.
“A referee of Mr Collina's stature will be of great merit to the J-League,” Suzuki was quoted as saying. “The level of J-League referees is not low but they tend to be criticised for their judgements,” he added. “If Mr. Collina blows the whistle, it will help the fans understand the authority of referees.” The J-League press office could not immediately confirm the report. Collina, instantly recognisable for his bald head and bulging eyes, announced his retirement on August 29 following a row with the Italian football federation (FIGC) over sponsorship. Collina, who refereed the 2002 World Cup final in Yokohama between Brazil and Germany, was told he would only be able to referee second division matches unless he dropped his sponsor and carmaker Opel, which happens to be the same sponsor for Serie A side AC Milan. Collina, a six-time winner of the world's best referee award, reached the
retirement age for Italian referees this year but the FIGC allowed him to carry
on for another season because of his excellent reputation.
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