TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - FIFA finally assigned Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli to referee the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina. The decision was surprising since many people predicted that the final match would be refereed by a non-European or non-South American ref.
FIFA’s Referring Committee Chairman Jim Boyce said that the final should be refereed by experienced referee.
“We choose the best referees for the best matches, and the Italian will referee to final,” Boyce said as reported by Sky Sport on Saturday, July 12, 2014.
Rizolli is an architect from Bologna who has already refereed three matches at this year’s World Cup, including Argentina vs Nigeria at the group stage and Argentina vs Belgium in the quarter final. Rizolli also refereed the match when Netherland devastated Spain with 5-1 at the group stage.
In 2010, the 42-year-old referee took charge of Europa League Final match between Atletico Madrid and FUlham. He also lead the match between Bayern Muenchen and Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final.
Rizolli would be the third Italian referee to take charge of the World Cup final. Earlier, there was Sergio Gonella in 1978 World Cup and Pierluigi Collina in 2002. Rizolli will be assisted by his compatriots Renato Faverani and Andrea Stefani in the World Cup final match to be held at Maracana Stadium on Sunday, July 13, 2014.
BBC | ADITYA BUDIMAN
