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Swiss referee handed final

25 May 2009 - 12:41:54

Swiss official Massimo Busacca has been selected as the referee for the Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona.

The experienced official has taken charge of 32 Champions League matches - six this season - including the second leg of United's quarter-final encounter with FC Porto last month.

However, he will be remembered as being the man in the middle when the Red Devils overcame Barcelona in last season's semi-finals.

Busacca awarded United a controversial third minute penalty for handball in the first leg at the Camp Nou which Cristiano Ronaldo missed.

United went on to win the tie by a 1-0 aggregate scoreline before triumphing over Chelsea in the Moscow final.

The 40-year-old also refereed the 2007 UEFA Cup Final between Espanyol and Sevilla in Glasgow.

"Busacca has been chosen by the UEFA referees' committee to take charge of the Champions League Final between Barcelona and Manchester United," confirmed a UEFA statement.

"(He) will be assisted by his fellow countrymen, assistant referees Matthias Arnet and Francesco Buragina.

"The fourth official will be Claudio Circhetta, also from Switzerland."

Reader Comments

• Carl Gruber, Florida USA (26 May 2009, 20:10)

  Do you mean like the German referee in the first Chelsea game at the Camp Neu?? 20 fouls..20 and no sending off.+ the Henry penalty.

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• Ogunkoya Kayode, Nigeria (26 May 2009, 16:51)

  Thank God it's not the same ref!

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• Munyaradzi Makusha, harare,zimbabwe (26 May 2009, 08:40)

  just give credit to sir alex ferguson your talisman,listen to what he says you'll make it.

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• Nix, Kenya (26 May 2009, 08:23)

  I dont see anything wrong with Wednesday's referee, Go Man U Go!!

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• Kevin Nash, nairobi kenya (26 May 2009, 06:03)

  I hope the ref will try his best not blunder like the other one did during the CHELSEA game with barca

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• NIC, denver colorado usa (26 May 2009, 02:39)

  hey as a coach and referee, ultimately the players have controll of the ball not the referee. i know there was some bad calls but the players shoot the ball not the referee. at this level players have to adjust to the head man. GO BARCELONA

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