#1837
Pierluigi Collina will not be allowed to referee games involving Milan this season due to a conflict of interests with their sponsors
The high-profile official signed a contract with car manufacturers Opel this summer, the same company that sponsors the rossoneri.
Much has been written about this in the press and Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani was quoted in the Gazzetta dello Sport as saying: "If this is the climate that is building around this issue, then we will make a sacrifice and give up the chance to have the best referee in the world take part in our Serie A and Coppa Italia games.
"I don’t think there’s anything scandalous about it, as in England referees are sponsored by Emirates and so are Chelsea. The reaction has proved to me once again than in Italy the attitude is different. We have to find a solution and I doubt Collina can suddenly tear up his contract with Opel, while football cannot lose its best official."
#1837