Door closed on Collina

PIERLUIGI COLLINA will not referee at the 2006 World Cup after FIFA confirmed that it will not change the upper age limit for international referees.

The Italian official, who turned 45 in February, will take charge of his last game on June 25 when Serie B club Vicenza host Triestina in the return leg of a promotion play-off.

“We have to respect the rules,” said Volker Roth, president of FIFA’s referee commission.

“We have so many great referees and we will have good substitutes for Collina.”