 Rizzoli during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final | |||
| Born | (1971-10-05)5 October 1971 (age 54) Mirandola,Modena, Italy | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Other occupation | Architect | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 1998–2001 | Serie C | Referee | |
| 2001–2010 | Serie A andB | Referee | |
| 2010–2017 | Serie A | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2007–2017 | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Nicola Rizzoli (Italian pronunciation:[niˈkɔːlaritˈtsɔːli]; born 5 October 1971) is an Italian formerfootballreferee who refereed in the ItalianSerie A from 2002 to 2017 and was aFIFA-listed referee from 2007 to 2017.[1] He refereed the2014 FIFA World Cup Final betweenGermany andArgentina on 13 July at theEstádio do Maracanã[2] and the2013 Champions League Final betweenBorussia Dortmund andBayern Munich atWembley Stadium.[3] Rizzoli won seven consecutiveAICSerie A Referee of the Year Awards from 2011 to 2017.[4] On 18 February 2017, Soccer 360 included Rizzoli on its list of the top 5 referees in the 21st century.[citation needed]
Rizzoli refereed his firstUEFA Champions League qualifying match in August 2007 and took charge of his first Champions League group stage match, a 2–0Sporting CP victory overBasel, on 1 October 2008. On 7 April 2010, Rizzoli took charge of the Champions League quarter-final second leg betweenManchester United andBayern Munich. With the score at 3–1 to Manchester United (4–3 on aggregate), Rizzoli sent off their right-back,Rafael, for a second bookable offence. Bayern then scored again and won the tie onaway goals.[5]
On 5 May 2010, Rizzoli refereed theCoppa Italia Final betweenInter andRoma.[6] On 12 May, Rizzoli refereed the2010 UEFA Europa League Final, asAtlético Madrid defeatedFulham 2–1.[7]
On 6 August 2011, Rizzoli refereed theSupercoppa Italiana Final betweenMilan and Inter.[8]
In May 2013, Rizzoli was selected byUEFA to referee the2013 Champions League Final atWembley.[3]
At the international level, Rizzoli served as a referee atUEFA Euro 2012[9] and officiated in qualifiers for the2010[10] and2014[11] World Cups. FIFA named Rizzoli to its list of 52 candidate referees for the2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.[12] Rizzoli was selected and was the head referee for a group stage match betweenSpain and theNetherlands. He refereed the2014 FIFA World Cup Final betweenGermany andArgentina on 13 July at theEstádio do Maracanã.[2]
Rizzoli was named the 2014 and 2015 World's Best Referee byIFFHS.[13][14]
On 15 September 2015, Rizzoli was in charge of theUEFA Champions League Group Stage match betweenPSV Eindhoven andManchester United where PSV'sHéctor Moreno broke the leg of Manchester United defenderLuke Shaw. His decision not to show Moreno a red card for the tackle was controversial.[15] UEFA chief refereeing officerPierluigi Collina reminded officials of their responsibility to player safety after the incident.[16]
In December 2015, Rizzoli was named one of the eighteen referees appointed forUEFA Euro 2016.[17]
On 4 July 2017, Rizzoli retired as referee, although eligible for one more year, and was appointed as the head Serie A designator.[18]
When he was not refereeing, Rizzoli worked as an architect.[7]
Sporting positions Nicola Rizzoli | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | 2010 UEFA Europa League Final Referee | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | 2013 UEFA Champions League Final Referee | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | 2014 FIFA World Cup Final Referee | Succeeded by |
Men's winners
| |
