Collina on why he blew late full-time whistle in World Cup Final and suspension after going bald | OneFootball

Former Italian referee Pierluigi Collina reveals he blew the full-time whistle in the 2002 World Cup Final a few seconds later to ensure he had the ball in his hands and says referee chiefs suspended him after he went bald due to alopecia totalis.

The legendary referee made headlines on Tuesday by saying he would change the penalty kick rule but added many more intriguing anecdotes about his career during the same interview with La Repubblica newspaper.

“Giving a red card, contrary to popular belief, is not a moment of satisfaction for the referee,” he said.

“I have always experienced it as participating in a defeat, even if it wasn’t my own. A red card is necessary to maintain respect for the rules on the field. But I have never enjoyed sending a player off.”

Was he ever tempted to leave the pitch due to fans’ insults?

“No, never. But they tried to make me leave the field anyway,” he revealed.

“Actually, they tried to make me stop refereeing because I had lost all my hair. When I suffered from alopecia totalis at 24, I lost all my body hair within two weeks. I was only able to continue because I was ‘pretty good.’

“The refereeing authorities suspended me for three months. Then they tested me: they sent me to officiate a match in Latina, a heated stadium, to see how people would react to me. I will always be grateful to that crowd: that day, they couldn’t have cared less about having a bald referee.”

Collina on why he blew late full-time whistle in World Cup Final and suspension after going bald

Pierluigi Collina

Collina officiated the 2002 World Cup Final, in which Brazil won 2-0 against Germany.

“I have a collection that could make a football museum jealous,” said the ex-referee.

“I have the ball from the 2002 World Cup final: that day, I blew the final whistle, I think, 13 or 14 seconds late, insignificant for the result, just to make sure the ball was in my hands, so I could take it home with me.

“During the award ceremony, before receiving my medal, someone from the organization told me, ‘Pierluigi, if you give me the ball, I’ll hold onto it for you. I replied: “Not a chance, the ball stays with me.” In the photos of the ceremony, I’m always holding that ball.”

Collina is regarded as one of the best referees of all time but he was involved in a controversial incident in 2000 when he suspended a Serie A game between Perugia and Juventus for adverse weather.

It was the final game of the season, Juventus lost 1-0 after the game resumed that same day, seeing Lazio win the title.

“What was certainly unusual was the time between when the match was suspended and when it resumed,” Collina admitted.

“But the field conditions weren’t that bad, we’ve seen worse situations. Those who were there wrote about it in the newspapers, and the assessments were unanimously positive.”