Overview
- Former referee Mark Clattenburg said on the Daily Mail’s Whistleblowers podcast that an Italian official is likely to be appointed to the World Cup final, a remark reported by multiple outlets on July 10, 2026.
- Journalists and pundits assume Clattenburg was referring to Maurizio Mariani, the only Italian referee at the tournament who has already taken charge of Saudi Arabia v Uruguay, Colombia v DR Congo and Brazil v Japan.
- Clattenburg framed his concern as about optics and fairness rather than competence, citing the prominence of Pierluigi Collina as chair of FIFA’s referees committee and Roberto Rosetti as head of UEFA refereeing.
- Tournament rules that bar officials from the nations playing in late matches and the continued presence of France, England and Argentina reduce the pool of eligible referees and make officials from non-qualifying countries more likely choices.
- The prediction has been tied to wider scrutiny of FIFA decisions at this World Cup, including the USA’s Folarin Balogun red card and the reported intervention by President Trump with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and FIFA has not confirmed any appointment for the final.