Daniele Orsato, a well-known Italian referee who recently retired from officiating, is set to take on a consultancy role with the Russian Football Union (RFU). The 48-year-old, whose last matches included Atalanta vs. Fiorentina in Serie A and England vs. Switzerland in international play, has officially stepped down from his duties in Italy’s top two leagues.
According to reports from Russian news agency Tass, Orsato will not be traveling to Russia or officiating matches in person. Instead, his role will involve collaborating remotely with a select group of experienced referees. His focus will be on providing guidance and feedback to the officials involved in the Russian league, helping them improve their performance through video analysis and advice.
Orsato’s appointment to the RFU’s team of experts is a notable step, akin to being part of a Technical Sector in Italy, which is similar to an advisory council composed of seasoned professionals. His commitment to this role is expected to last until December, at which point he will evaluate his future options. While there has been speculation about Orsato continuing his officiating career for another year or taking on a position in Italy’s lower leagues, he has clearly distanced himself from such possibilities.
Furthermore, some have even suggested that he could potentially become the president of the Italian Referees Association, but for now, that remains a distant prospect.
