If you were to referee the final of the Champions League, between two of the most famous clubs in the world in front of a packed Camp Nou in Barcelona, it would probably be a day for you to remember. Not if you are Pierluigi Collina, the man with the shining bald pate who handled Manchester United's epic 2-1 Champions League win against Bayern Munich in May 1999.
In his recently opened Internet site (www.pierluigicollina.it), Italy's most famous referee confesses that one of his natural tendencies is to remain cool on the big occasion. For that reason, he cannot recall anything of the build-up to that Champions League final. This is just one of a series of intriguing revelations made by Collina in the course of e-mail correspondence with "fans", colleagues, former players and others on his new site. The man who is widely regarded as among the best referees in the world and whose handling of France v Spain at Euro 2000 earned him a "Best Referee of The Tournament" award from UEFA's technical committee has not only opened his own official site but he has also invited people to write to him (in Italian and English).
Collina explains he will answer a selection of his e-mails. From his answers to questions about the offside rule, "diving", recent controversial decisions and much else besides, it seems Collina has kept his promise.
For a start, 41-year-old Collina explains the shock of losing his hair when alopecia struck suddenly in December 1986. Just to prove the point, his site contains photographs of Collina the debutant referee sporting a fine head of hair.
Collina, who combines the role with his job as financial consultant with Banca Fideuram in Viareggio, Tuscany, also recalls how he first became involved in refereeing. A school pal, Fausto Capuano, suggested the two of them attend a refereeing course in their native Bologna. Collina got accepted on to the course while his friend was ruled out because he wore glasses.
Inevitably, Collina's decision to open up his site has attracted some negative letters, especially from Juventus fans annoyed by his recent sending-off of Edgar Davids during Lazio's 4-1 defeat of Juventus.
One correspondent from Canada, a Juventus fan, politely encourages Collina to take early retirement. He recalls Collina's now infamous decision to force Juventus to resume play after a heavy downpour at halftime in their 1-0 defeat by Perugia on the last day of last season, a defeat that cost Juve the title.
In his careful answers, Collina inevitably avoids polemics, sticking to a precise reiteration, where appropriate, of the laws of football. In one answer regarding strikers who "dive" in the penalty area, however, Collina lets his diplomatic mask slip just a little when he concedes "divers" can definitely fool referees, arguing that more use should be made of TV evidence to deal with the problem.
Doubtless, those who accuse Collina of being too much centrestage will point to the opening of his site as a further example of his overweaning ambition. We disagree. In a soccer world where decision makers (FIFA, UEFA, federations, FAs etc) seem remote and untouchable, at least to ordinary fans, his open use of the Internet and his willingness to answer questions represents a welcome breath of democratic, fresh air.
