Italian refereeing great
Pierluigi Collina on Friday denied a report in the Armenian
press that he had illegally adopted a child.
"I was astonished to read that I had reportedly illegally
adopted an Armenia child," Collina, who was the world's top
match official for many years and is the current chairman of
FIFA's Referees Committee, told ANSA via telephone.
He was commenting on a newspaper report that said he was
involved in an investigation into an illegal adoption system in
the country.
"Although I esteem those who decide to do this legally, my
wife and I have never considered adopting a child," he added.
"I find it incredible that my name could have been linked to
an investigation into a system of illegal adoptions and,
obviously, I have taken action to protect myself via the
appropriate channels".
The Armenian justice ministry has officially stated that
Collina has not made a request to adopt an Armenian child and
said that "the publication of this sort of fake news is morally
and legally unacceptable".
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