Pierluigi Collina may be considered to be one of the best referees in the world by FIFA, but the controversial figure has been banned from taking charge of Inter, Roma and Juventus in the run-in to the title.
Refereeing designators Paolo Bergamo and Luigi Pairetto confirmed the news this afternoon following the row over two late penalties handed to the Giallorossi last week.
Roma were losing 2-0 at bottom club Venezia before Collina pointed to the spot twice in the space of two minutes for the eventual 2-2 draw.
Now that the Scudetto has become a three-horse race with four games left in the season, another refereeing error could spark a major diplomatic row between the three clubs.
Instead, Collina will be assigned only to games valid for fourth place, relegation dogfights and promotion clashes in Serie B.
It has even been suggested that FA President Franco Carraro personally ordered the move to avoid further controversy in an already heated environment.
I think they dont ban referees for nothing?
Refereeing designators Paolo Bergamo and Luigi Pairetto confirmed the news this afternoon following the row over two late penalties handed to the Giallorossi last week.
Roma were losing 2-0 at bottom club Venezia before Collina pointed to the spot twice in the space of two minutes for the eventual 2-2 draw.
Now that the Scudetto has become a three-horse race with four games left in the season, another refereeing error could spark a major diplomatic row between the three clubs.
Instead, Collina will be assigned only to games valid for fourth place, relegation dogfights and promotion clashes in Serie B.
It has even been suggested that FA President Franco Carraro personally ordered the move to avoid further controversy in an already heated environment.
I think they dont ban referees for nothing?