Pierluigi Collina

Pierluigi Collina, a globally recognized former football referee, currently holds the influential position of Chairman of FIFA's Refereeing Committee. In this capacity, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of officiating in the sport. Recent news indicates that FIFA is implementing new rules for the 2026 World Cup, including stricter red card policies for actions like covering mouths, measures against time-wasting during corner kicks, and expanded use of VAR technology. Collina's committee is instrumental in the development and rollout of such significant changes. While not directly mentioned in the provided snippets regarding the specific referees selected for the 2026 World Cup, his leadership oversees the entire officiating apparatus for the tournament. His current relevance lies in his direct impact on the fairness and consistency of refereeing at the highest level of international football, particularly as major tournaments like the World Cup approach and introduce new regulations under his purview.