Collina reveals the key to successful refereeing

SINGAPORE — Close to 200 people got an insight today (Apr 4) on how retired referee Pierluigi Collina became football’s most famous and successful official.

Speaking at the talk entitled “The Art of Decision Making: Transform and Stay on Top of Your Game” conducted by the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), the Italian, who is now head of referees at European football’s governing body UEFA, said a key to being successful is adaptability.

“There is always something to be learnt, and it is important to keep learning,” he said at the SingTel Comcentre theatrette today.

“The one who survives is not the strongest, but the one who reacts fastest and the best to change, and looking at change as an opportunity and not something to be afraid of.”

Collina, who retired in 2005, is a six-time FIFA Referee of the Year. He is perhaps best known for officiating the 1999 Champions League final where Manchester United beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in dramatic fashion at the Camp Nou, and the 2002 World Cup final in Yokohama where Brazil beat Germany 2-0.

Lasting over an hour, the talk, which is part of SIM’s 50th anniversary learning series, also saw the 54-year-old discuss areas like decision making, his own career and the challenges faced by referees and their assistants.

“The referee has less than a second to decide, and everybody knows that a referee’s job is very difficult,” he said.

“But everybody also forgets that and starts complaining about the referee’s decision.”