If you read advertisements for new cars, no doubt you will have seen the one for two new Vauxhall models that feature the very recognisable Italian referee, Pierluigi Collina, he of the bald head and bulging eyes and considered by many to be the best referee in the world.
Collina refereed the Olympic Games football final in 1996, the 1999 UEFA Champions Cup final, the World Cup final in 2002 and the UEFA Cup final in 2004. A very impressive list of honours but like me you might be asking, 'what does it have to do with motor cars?'
As a Vauxhall owner myself I was sent the latest Vauxhall magazine. Inside was Collina's life story, including how he lost his hair, but it wasn't until the very last sentence that any clue was forthcoming. He is accredited with saying, 'the two new models have excellent driving dynamics, to enable a split second judgement in every situation - just like a referee on a football field.'
I've no doubt that a copywriter somewhere is pleased with that bit of work. 'All under control' the slogan reads for the new cars alongside a photo of the suited Collina.
There is however a twist to this story. Anyone who has driven on the continent, will know that over there Vauxhall doesn't exist.
However, exactly the same GM cars can be found under the Opel trade mark. Now it just happens, that Opel also sponsor the football giant AC Milan, who play in the Italian Serie A. Ironically, the Italian Federation (FIGC) had extended the mandatory retirement age for referees to allow Collina an extra season at the top but now they say there is a conflict of interest. They told Collina that for the rest of the season, he could only referee in the lower division Serie B. Collina has said that while he has nothing against refereeing in Serie B, he considers this is an attack on his integrity. 'Either they have faith in referees or they don't and without trust we cannot move forward.' So he resigned.
I have sympathy for Collina. I should hate to have my integrity challenged. However the FIGC are probably happy as they are already involved in scandals with Genoa, relegated for match fixing and two clubs denied promotion for financial irregularities.
Could sponsorship of referees happen in this country? Well to a small extent it already does. If you look closely at referees in the top flight you will see their shirt bear the logo of Emirates who have in recently sponsored both Arsenal and Chelsea. There has never been any suggestion that this sponsorship overlapping, has led to any irregularities.
In Scotland, the league referees bravely bear their sponsor's name - Specsavers, on their sleeve. Some while ago Paul Durkin featured in an advert for Barclaycard when they were league sponsors. There is, however, a great deal of difference between what happens in this country and Pierlugi Collina's sponsorship. Here, unlike players who can negotiate deals direct with companies away from football, referees are forbidden from doing so. All negotiations are conducted by the PGMOL: (Professional Game Match Officials Ltd) and individual referees do not benefit directly as the money has to be ploughed back into the development of referees.
The funding received from Emirates supports refereeing at many levels. This means for instance that Britain's best known referee, Graham Poll, would not be able to secure a large sponsorship deal for himself, at least not while he is still refereeing.
Collina of course thought his refereeing days were over, so you can't blame him for negotiating such a lucrative sponsorship for himself, reported to be worth £545,000. Apart from the slur on his character, I don't suppose Collina will be too upset as he drives away from Italian football, presumably in an Opel.
Dick
Sawdon Smith