Kolkata: Legendary referee Pierluigi Collina will arrive at Kolkata on 4th October at Kolkata for the FIFA U17 World Cup workshop. The Italian stalwart will be off to New Delhi then for another workshop. Collina’s visit to Kolkata would certainly be a huge moment for the Mecca of Indian football.
Often cited as the best referee of his generation by players and fans alike, Pierluigi Collina was respected for his no-nonsense approach to officiating. He is instantly recognizable as he contracted a severe form of alopecia, resulting in the permanent loss of all his hair, giving him his distinctive bald appearance and earning the nickname Kojak. Coincidentally, this happened around the same time that he began refereeing more high-profile matches in the Italian Serie A.
He retired in 2005 after refereeing his last major international tournament, Euro 2004.
His love for football continued after his retirement and he acts as a non-paid consultant to the Italian Football Referees Association (AIA), and is a member of the UEFA Referees Committee. He has also been the head of referees for the Football Federation of Ukraine since 2010.