Alberto Michelotti

Biographical information

RolesReferee
SexMale
Full nameAlberto•Michelotti
Used nameAlberto•Michelotti
Born15 July 1930 in Parma, Parma (ITA)
Died18 January 2022 in Parma, Parma (ITA)
Measurements182 cm
NOC Italy

Biography

One of Italy’s best known referees in the 1970s, Alberto Michelotti had a brief spell as a goalkeeper in the third and fourth level of Italian football before taking up refereeing in 1958. He enjoyed 13 seasons as a Serie A official (1968-81), starting and ending his top-flight career at the San Paulo stadium in Napoli. His final League game was a Serie B encounter between Lazio and Sampdoria in May 1981. Michelotti was honoured to referee three Italian Cup finals, Fiorentina - A. C. Milan in 1975, Roma - Torino in 1980, and the second leg of the Roma - Torino final in 1981, which was the very last game of his career.

The winner of the 1974 Giovanni Mauro Award as Best Referee of the Year, Michelotti had been appointed a FIFA international referee the previous year. At the 1976 Olympics, he officiated in just two matches, but had the distinction of sending off five players, and awarding three penalties. In 1979, he refereed the second leg of the UEFA Cup Final between Borussia Mönchengladbach and Red Star Belgrade. The following year, Michelotti was in charge of the opening game of the European Championship, which saw West Germany beat the holders, Czechoslovakia, 1-0 in a group game. Although he refereed three qualifying matches for the 1978 FIFA World Cup, Michelotti was overlooked for the finals, with his place being taken by Sergio Gonella, who went on to referee the final match between Argentina and Netherlands. Journalist Claudio Rinaldi wrote Michelotti’s biography in 2010, entitled Dirige Michelotti da Parma. Vita e passioni di un grande arbitro.

Referee

Games Sport (Discipline) / Event NOC / Team Phase Unit Role As
1976 Summer Olympics Football (Football) ITA Alberto Michelotti
Football, Men (Olympic) Match #2 East Germany — France Referee
Football, Men (Olympic) Match #3 Israel — Mexico Referee