FIFA hires Massimo Busacca as head of referees

FIFA hires Massimo Busacca as head of referees

Published Jul. 13, 2011 11:10 a.m. ET

FIFA has hired Massimo Busacca of Switzerland as head of refereeing to prepare match officials for international tournaments.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter says in a statement that Busacca's experience will be ''particularly useful to our mission.''

Busacca is a member of FIFA's Task Force 2014, responsible for improving soccer before the next World Cup. That includes having only full-time professional referees at the tournament.

The 42-year-old Busacca has won worldwide praise for his handling of the 2009 Champions League final. He was suspended months later after making an offensive gesture to Swiss fans.

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Busacca angered host South Africa by dismissing its goalkeeper in his only match at the 2010 World Cup.

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