In the most recent episode of the Daily Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast, Mark Clattenburg expressed his belief that an Italian referee is set to oversee the World Cup Final.
The sole Italian official at this year’s tournament is 44-year-old Maurizio Mariani from Rome. Mariani has already officiated in key matches, including Saudi Arabia’s draw against Uruguay, Colombia’s win over DR Congo, and Brazil’s triumph over Japan in the round of 32.
Clattenburg, without revealing specific names, noted that selecting an Italian for this prestigious role could cause a stir, as it would mark the fourth instance since 1978 that Italy has provided the referee for the sport’s most significant match.
In a recent episode of the Daily Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast, Mark Clattenburg suggests an Italian referee is expected to referee the World Cup Final.
Maurizio Mariani, the only Italian referee in attendance, has officiated games such as Saudi Arabia’s tie with Uruguay and Brazil’s win over Japan in the round of 32.
It comes with FIFA already facing accusations of preferential treatment after the governing body suspended the automatic ban handed to USA striker Folarin Balogun
It comes with FIFA already facing accusations of preferential treatment after the governing body suspended the automatic ban handed to USA striker Folarin Balogun, a decision taken after President Trump raised the red card personally with Gianni Infantino, prompting calls for FIFA’s President to resign.
‘I am hearing again that it could be an Italian referee,’ Clattenburg said on the podcast, which he hosts alongside Gordon Smart and the Daily Mail’s Football Editor Ian Ladyman.
‘Infantino’s Italian, Collina’s Italian. Most of the power in the refereeing and wider football world is Italian.
‘FIFA needs to keep everybody happy, all of the six confederations, and if you look at it, in 2010 the referee was English, in 2014 Italian, in 2018 Argentinian and in 2022 Polish. If we go Italian again, are we saying there’s no other referees but Italian?
‘If this year an Italian referee gets the chance again, bearing in mind what’s happened with FIFA at this tournament, it would be a big shock to me.’
Infantino was in fact born in Switzerland to Italian parents. Clattenburg made clear his criticism was not of Mariani’s competency to referee the biggest game in football, but an issue of fairness.
The World Cup Final will take place on Sunday 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York, with the match officials expected to be announced after the semi-finals, likely on Thursday.
With France, England and Argentina all still in the tournament, leading officials including Clement Turpin, Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor can only come into contention for the final if their nations are knocked out.
The World Cup Final will take place on Sunday 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York
Turpin takes charge of England’s quarter-final against Norway on Saturday, with Oliver appointed to Spain’s meeting with Belgium.
‘It would upset a lot of people if we had another Italian referee,’ Clattenburg, who refereed the Euro 2016 final, said.
‘I am not saying an Italian doesn’t deserve it, but there’s an awful lot of talented referees that could referee that match.’
Listen to the full episode, where the hosts analyse Morocco’s exit to France, by searching for Whistleblowers wherever you get your podcasts.