Italian referee Roberto Rosetti has retired from the game with immediate effect following his dismissal from the World Cup finals last week.
Rosetti was the man in charge of the controversial second round meeting of Argentina and Mexico, when neither he nor his assistant Stefano Ayroldi spotted the clear offside which led to Carlos Tevez’s opening goal.
The official found himself in an impossible position when the incident was replayed on the big screen and the magnitude of the error became apparent to the consternation of the Mexican players.
Rosetti and Uruguayan Jorge Larrionda, who missed Frank Lampard’s goal in the England-Germany contest on the same day, were both sent home from the World Cup by Fifa’s officials clearly unhappy with their performances.
And Rosetti, who took charge of the Euro 2008 final between Germany and Spain and was widely tipped as a principal contender for the World Cup final after Italy’s early exit, has responded by announcing his retirement from the international game.
He will now settle into the role of Serie B match official administrator with the Italian referees’ association.
