August 26, 2004

With his bald head and bulging eyes, Italian Pierluigi Collina is the world's most famous referee and he could soon be on his way to Singapore.

It was confirmed that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) want the 45-year-old to officiate at the Singapore Cup final in October.

FAS referees' committee chairman Jeffrey Beh said FAS will be hosting a referees instructors course for Asian referees in October & it is felt that it would be great if Collina would agree to officiate the Singapore Cup final.

Still a lot would depend on his availability as well as his willingness to conduct the referees' course & officiate the match.

Final the most obvious & most important would be the cost factor.

He said he has yet to receive word on what might be the cost of bringing Collina to Singapore, but it could be anything between US$10,000 ($17,000) to US$20,000 ($34,000).

Nevertheless an official approach has already been made to the Uefa referees committee & FAS are awaiting a response.

With that the question would be is he worth the money?

Most definitely, according to several referees & club officials response.

Singapore referee Shamsul Maidin, who recently officiated at the Asian Cup in Beijing, said Collina is arguably one of the world's top referees & it will be great if he is able to come here.