FIFA extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Luigi Agnolin, a former FIFA referee who passed away last Saturday at the age of 75 following a long illness.

Agnolin made his Serie A debut in Italy in 1973, directing 226 matches during his domestic career. He became a FIFA referee in 1978 and in 1986 refereed at the FIFA World Cup™ in Mexico, officiating at the semi-final match between West Germany and France.

In 1987, Agnolin officiated at the UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup final between Ajax and Lokomotive Leipzig in Athens. The following year he refereed at the UEFA Champion Clubs’ Cup final between PSV Eindhoven and Benfica in Stuttgart. Agnolin also refereed at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy and after the end of it, he decided to retire.

In 2012, he was inducted into the Italian Football Association's Hall of Fame.

Speaking about the death of Luigi Agnolin, Chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee Pierluigi Collina said: “Gigi was an example and an inspiration for all of us referees and as a young referee I have looked at him as a model.

"He was a man with a great personality and charisma on the pitch and was always regarded as a decisive and firm referee. His many colleagues in FIFA and throughout the global football community will remember him fondly and with much admiration and affection.”