Collina to ref Chelsea tie

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s prediction came true today when Pierluigi Collina was appointed referee for his club’s second leg Champions League match with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian official, the most famous whistleblower on the planet, was named by UEFA’s Referees Committee, fulfilling a prediction made by Mourinho after the first leg, won 2-1 by Barca in the Nou Camp.

Mourinho had criticised the refereeing performance of Swede Anders Frisk after the first leg when he accused Barca boss Frank Rijkaard of speaking to the official at the interval.

It was reported last week that Collina, who handled the World Cup final between Brazil and Germany in 2002 and the 1999 Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich, will quit in the summer for a desk job as “designatore”, the man who appoints referees for individual Serie A fixtures.

German Herbert Fandel has been nominated to handle the match on Tuesday at the San Siro between AC Milan and Manchester United.

Russian Valentin Ivanov will officiate in the game between Lyon and Werder Bremen.