May 25, 2002

SEOUL, May 25 (AFP) -- Italy's no-nonsense referee Pierluigi Collina was handed the job of refereeing the potentially volatile World Cup clash between England and Argentina on June 9.

Voted best referee in the world four times and awarded best referee of Euro 2000, Collina oversaw England's 5-1 defeat of Germany in Munich in a World Cup qualifier last year.

Linesmen for the Group F match are Canada's Hector Vergara and Mohamed Saeed of the Maldives while Brian Hall of the United States was named fourth official. Since the Falklands war between Argentina and Britain in 1982 matches between the two nations have been highly charged and never less than controversial.

Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone turned up the heat for the clash with England when he confessed to the English press recently that he deliberately tried to get David Beckham sent-off when the two sides met at the last finals in France.

Beckham was red-carded just after half-time when he petulantly kicked out at Simeone following a foul on him by the Argentine midfielder during their second round clash.

At the Mexico World Cup in 1986 Argentine legend Diego Maradona scored one of the most controversial goals of all time when his 'hand of God' goal helped his side to a 2-1 win over their old foe.

Maradona said at the time it was the 'hand of God' but the head of Diego, though later confessed he handled the ball and that it felt wonderful, like stealing an Englishman's wallet.

Collina, whose bald-head makes him one of the most recognisable figures in the world game, has his own website and is a celebrity in his own right in Italy. Bookmakers already make him favourite to officiate in the final although that would not be possible were Italy to be involved.