The experienced Italian referee Daniele Orsato will retire after the Euros this summer. He took charge of his final Serie A match on Sunday when Fiorentina won 3-2 over Atalanta in Bergamo.
After his 290 Serie A game, the 48-year-old was given a guard of honour by Atalanta and Fiorentina players and received shirts from both teams, which he proudly held with his son on the pitch. "Thank you, thank you all", responded Orsato.
After the final whistle, Fiorentina director Daniele Prade and Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini congratulated the Italian referee. “It was deserved,” said Gasperini. “I don’t know if the rule of making referees retire due to their age is correct. Other criteria should be considered, but he [Orsato] must be congratulated, and I am sure he will make his experience available to young referees. He still has a lot to give.
Prade agreed with Gasperini. “One of the best referees in history quits football today,” the Tuscans’ director told DAZN. “I hope he remains inside the system. He was not a friendly referee, but he was authoritative and authoritarian. Most importantly, when we knew he had been appointed, we were sure we had the best referee on the pitch.”
Source: Football Italia
