THE path of Nestor Pitana of Argentina is so winding to be a referee in the World Cup 2018 final. He had worked as a film extras, security officers at the disco, and had been a regional basketball player.
The 43-year-old man from the province of Misiones was elected to lead the final match that brings France against Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday, 15 July 2018.
With a height of 1.92 meters, Pitana has grown accustomed to harsh words and hard games in Argentine domestic football. He is not easily intimidated by angry players.
Pitana has led 347 professional matches, issued 1,658 yellow cards and 108 red cards, and awarded 81 penalties since its debut in 2007.
Like any referee, he is not spared the controversy. In an Argentine league match that took place in April, he failed to see Estudiantes keeper who failed to keep the ball while trying to prevent a corner kick, and moments later awarded a penalty to the opposing team, Chacarita.
Pitana is also remembered for his role at Derby Superclasico in 2014, when River Plate scored in the last minute to clinch a win from a corner kick which claimed the Boca Juniors camp should not have been awarded.
Having once played basketball and soccer at the regional level, Pitana then entered the world of arbitration and also studied physical education.
He also had unusual jobs, including being a prison warden in Argentine film La Furia in 1997, and had worked as a coast guard and security officer at a disco.
He made his umpire debut at Argentina's top division football in 2007, becoming an international referee three years later. He leads four matches at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
Comments