But what do you know about Pierluigi Collina?

Collina was born in Bologna, Italy on 13th February 1960 and is a Financial Adviser by profession. Collina is fluent in four languages - Italian, English, Spanish, French - so he should have NO problem in conveying his messages across to the players tomorrow.

Collina isn't bald by choice. In 1988 he contracted Alopecia which means the loss of all facial hair and was immediately dubbed 'Kojak' after the Telly Savalas TV character.

Collina attended the University of Bologna and in 1984 he gradutated with a degree in Economics. In Collina's teenage years he played as central defender for a local team and in 1977 he was persuaded to try out on a referee's course by a close friend. Showing that he had a complete aptitude for the job, inside three years he was officiating regional matches. This was combined with Collina serving his his compulsory national service. By the early nineties after working his way up through Serie C1 and Serie C2 matches, Collina was in charge of Italian Serie B and Serie A.

In 1995, after he had officiated at 43 Serie A matches, he was placed on FIFA's Referees List. He refereed five matches at the 1996 Olympic Games, including the final between Nigeria and Argentina; and the 1999 UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Manchester United. In 2002, he reached the pinnacle of his career when he was chosen as the referee for the World Cup final. He was also the referee for the 2004 UEFA Cup final between Valencia and Olympique Marseille.

Euro 2004 was his last major international tournament as a referee, as he is nearing the mandatory retirement age of 45 for international referees. Recently, the FA Premier League has publicly discussed having foreign referees officiate selected high-profile matches, and has had talks with Collina about his possible availability to fill such a role. (In England, the mandatory retirement age for referees is 48.)

Although Collina is closely identified with football, his favorite sports club plays Basketball. He is a lifelong supporter of Fortitudo Bologna, one of Europe's leading basketball clubs.

Collina will need all of his experience, guile, humour and maybe eyes in the back of that shining bowling ball head of his, to keep this game from boiling over. After all the words, insults that have been exchanged since the week of the 1st leg in the Nou Camp, there was no other choice but to have Pierluigi Collina take charge of this game. Probably the best referee in the world.

COME ON CHELSEA!