by Martin Rødvand on July 14, 2011
Fifa earlier today sent out a press release announcing that Massimo Busacca has been appointed Head of Fifa Refereeing Department. The 42-year-old Swiss official has retired from all refereeing and will now focus on developing referees for Fifa.
Busacca has had an astonishing international career since joining the international list in 1999. In 2007 he refereed the Uefa Cup Final, and in 2009 he took charge of the Uefa Champions League Final. He was selected for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In 2008 he refereed a semi-final in Euro 2008 in Austria/Switzerland.
This recent retirement is just one in a line of top referees retiring before the Fifa age limit is met. Lubos Michel, Roberto Rosetti and now Massimo Busacca have all retired before reaching the mandatory retirement age of Fifa referees.
Busacca succeeds José María García-Aranda Encinar.
by Martin Rødvand on January 18, 2011
Howard Webb has been named 2010′s best referee by the IFFHS on their website.
An excerpt from IFFHS’ text accompanying the voting results:
For the first time a referee from Great Britain, the 39-year-old Howard Webb, has become The World‘s best Referee of the year. He provided brilliant performances in the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and full “A” internationals, so that his controversial performance in the World Cup final made no difference. The 33-year-old Uzbek Ravshan Irmatov, gave an impressive performance, surpassed his Asian colleagues in the previous years and become the world‘s 2nd best referee. The title-holder Massimo Busacca from Switzerland was disadvantaged by his appearances at the World Cup in South Africa and came third.
It is obvious that Webb’s appointment to both the Uefa Champions League final and the World Cup final has influenced the voting. In 2006, Horacio Elizondo was named best referee after his World Cup final appointment, and Roberto Rosetti in 2008 after his Euro final.
The full results can be found on IFFHS’ website.
