Big note is that Nicola Rizzoli is nowhere amongst the appointments, meaning he is almost certainly refereeing one of this week’s upcoming Last 16 Champions League matches, held Tuesday and Wednesday, February 18 and 19. His two assistant referees, Stefani and Faverani, are listed this weekend, but only as fourth officials. The referees for the Champions League matches are not announced until two
Read more
The match of the week is obviously the Lazio v. Roma derby. The third best referee in Italy will be in the middle: Daniele Orsato (above). Personally, I like Orsato. Good man manager, solid positioning, all around nice guy. (I actually don’t know that; he could be completely insufferable, for all I know.) I mean, he’s no Nicola Rizzoli, but then,
Read more
Nicola Rizzoli has been named Italy’s top referee for the 858th year in a row. Okay, I exaggerate. It’s just 857. In all seriousness, this is at least the third year in a row that Rizzoli has walked onto the stage at Italy’s Gran Gala and accepted the trophy. And I think he’s worn the same suit every year. (For
Read more
So, apparently climate change is everywhere, because it’s been raining buckets in Rome for, like, six weeks. Or that must be how it feels to them. There’s so much rain that the Prime Minister has declared a state of emergency in the city. It rained for 24 hours before the Roma v. Parma match, and the teams walked out onto
Read more
The big game this week is undoubtedly Juventus v. Inter on Sunday. Gianluca Rocchi, Italy’s second highest rated ref behind Nicola Rizzoli, will take the helm for that one. Speaking of Rizzoli (above), the band’s back together for Atalanta v. Napoli, with Renato Faverani and Andrea Stefani – his favored assistants and World Cup team – joining him on Sunday.
Read more
Here are the officials for this weekend’s TIM Cup second round of returns. Saturday LAZIO – JUVENTUS MASSA BARBIRATI – MARZALONI IV: DI LIBERATORE ADD1: BERGONZI ADD2: GERVASONI NAPOLI – CHIEVO IRRATI STALLONE – GHIANDAI IV: PETRELLA ADD1: GIACOMELLI ADD2: LA PENNA Sunday CAGLIARI – MILAN DOVERI DE PINTO – SCHENONE IV: GRILLI ADD1: RIZZOLI ADD2: DI BELLO FIORENTINA –
Read more
Here are the referee appointments for January 18 and 19 in Serie A. Nothing terribly exciting. Of the Elite referees, Daniele Orsato takes Chievo-Parma, and Gianluca Rocchi (above) will oversee Udinese-Lazio. Fresh off his not-at-all surprising appointment to the World Cup, Nicola Rizzoli will manage Genoa-Inter. One slightly interesting item, Rizzoli has a new assistant referee team this week. World
Read more
Here are the referee appointments for the weekend of January 11 in the Serie A. Of note: None of Serie A’s “big cats” (Rocchi, Rizzoli, Orsato, Tagliavento, etc.) have a match. They’re all serving as additional officials for other teams. On the other hand, the delicious Marco Guida (above) is officiating (Cagliari v. Juventus), so that’s always a treat. ATALANTA –
Read more
In case you still don’t believe that referees are celebrities in Italy, here’s a 12-photo spread of Nicola Rizzoli getting papped while skiing in Courmayeur. These pictures were taken just a few days before the big Juventus-Roma match on January 5, but he looks as cool as usual. I particularly love the casually opened jacket and stylin’ red boots. If
Read more
Oh, how I love Nicola Rizzoli. This guy is the best of the best, both in Italy and internationally. And while he’s much more measured on the international circuit (his 2013 Champions League final was a master class in letting a game flow), he plies his trade in the drama-filled theater that is Serie A. Bless him. Most weeks, he
Read more
PLAY THE ADVANTAGE 