Angel Norberto Coerezza, a legendary Argentine football referee, died this Wednesday at the age of 92. Coerezza was a First Division referee between 1957 and 1978 and had a distinguished international career. At the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, he officiated the memorable match between England and Germany and was a linesman in the final that Brazil won against Italy. He also participated in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, where he was in charge of the opening match. His style was characterized by balance, a good understanding of the rules, and a calm presence that commanded respect without the need for grand gestures. In an era when refereeing demanded a tough exterior, Coerezza combined intelligence and sensitivity to maintain control of the game on the field.
Between 1979 and 1989, he served as Director of the AFA Referee Academy, where he had a decisive influence on the training of several generations of referees. There, he not only transmitted the rules, but also a way of thinking about refereeing: interpreting the game, understanding the context, and taking responsibility for every decision. Between 1995 and 2002, he was in charge of the AFA's training complex in Ezeiza. And between 2010 and 2017, he returned as a Mentor at the National Refereeing Directorate, reaffirming his teaching profile and his ongoing commitment to the growth of Argentine refereeing. The Argentine Referees Association bid him farewell with a message summarizing his career: “We regret to announce the passing of Don Ángel Norberto Coerezza (92), an icon of Argentine refereeing. A World Cup and Olympic referee, and a tireless mentor. An enormous human and professional legacy. May he rest in peace.”
The oldest Rosario Central fans remember him well. Coerezza was the referee for the 1970 National Championship final between Rosario Central and Boca Juniors, at River Plate's stadium. Rosario Central was winning 1-0 when Boca Juniors fans invaded the pitch, but Coerezza made a controversial decision: he ruled that the match should continue. After that incident, Boca Juniors tied the game and then, in extra time, turned the score around. They won 2-1, and Rosario Central players always maintained that Coerezza favored Boca Juniors. That was the first time Rosario Central had reached a final in Argentine football. The following year, Coerezza officiated the clásico between Rosario Central and Newell's Old Boys at the Monumental Stadium for the National Championship. Central won 1-0 with a diving header from Aldo Pedro Poy, a landmark goal in the club's history. With this victory, Central qualified for the final, where they defeated San Lorenzo to win their first professional title. That day, however, the refereeing was impeccable, and no one complained about Coerezza. In 1973, Coerezza was the referee for the match between Central and San Lorenzo in the final four-team tournament of the National Championship, which also included River Plate and Atlanta. The game ended 1-1, and the draw allowed Central to secure their second title. But, once again, Coerezza's refereeing went unnoticed due to its fairness.
Source: La Capital
