Born |
Asti, Italy | 23 May 1933||
---|---|---|---|
Died |
19 June 2018 Asti | (aged 85)||
Other occupation | Bank manager | ||
Domestic | |||
Years | League | Role | |
1964–1978 | Serie A | Referee | |
International | |||
Years | League | Role | |
1972–1978 | FIFA-listed | Referee |
Sergio Gonella (Italian pronunciation: [ˈsɛrdʒo ɡoˈnɛlla]; 23 May 1933 – 19 June 2018) was an Italian bank manager and association football referee. He was the first ever Italian appointed to referee the final of the FIFA World Cup[1] which occurred when he took charge of the 1978 final between hosts Argentina and the Netherlands.[2] He is one of only two persons (the other being the Swiss Gottfried Dienst) to have refereed the finals of both the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA World Cup. In 2013, he was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame.[3]