Collina named chief selector for Serie A referees

ROME, July 19 (Reuters) Former World Referee of the Year Pierluigi Collina has been given the job of selecting referees for matches in Italy's top two divisions, the Italian Referees Association said today.

''It's limiting to think that I'll only be involved in the choice of referees,'' Collina was quoted as saying on La Gazzetta dello Sport's Web site.

''I believe the preparation of referees is only important, so the top priority is to develop the whole refereeing movement (in Italy), which is young and a little inexperienced.'' The job of referee selector has been controversial since the former official in charge of selection, Pierluigi Pairetto, was banned in last year's Serie A match-fixing scandal.

Collina, 47, was almost universally acknowledged to be the best referee in the world before his retirement in 2005.

He was World Referee of the Year six years running between 1998 and 2003 and took charge of the World Cup final between Brazil and Germany in 2002.

REUTERS TB VC1742