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Rizzoli takes charge in Rio
Italy's Nicola Rizzoli is to referee the FIFA World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, having previously officiated at the 2013 UEFA Champions League and 2010 UEFA Europa League finals.
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Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli has been given another major footballing assignment – this time, the FIFA World Cup final between Germany and Argentina at the Estadio do Maracana in Rio De Janeiro.
Rizzoli, a 42-year-old architect from Bologna, has already refereed three matches at the tournament, taking charge of Spain-Netherlands and Nigeria-Argentina in the group stage and the quarter-final between Argentina and Belgium.
Rizzoli started his international career in 2007, and has taken charge of two major European club competition finals – the 2010 UEFA Europa League final between Club Atlético de Mardid and Fulham FC, and the 2013 UEFA Champions League final between FC Bayern München and Borussia Dortmund. He also officated at three UEFA EURO 2012 matches.
Rizzoli will be assisted by his compatriots Renato Faverani and Andrea Stefani, and Carlos Vera (Ecuador) is the fourth official. He is the third Italian referee to take charge of a FIFA World Cup final, following Sergio Gonella in 1978 and Pierluigi Collina in 2002.
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