Bio
Massimo Busacca
Born: 1969-02-06
Intl. since: 1999-01-01
Hometown: Monte Carrasso
Country: Switzerland
Speaks: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish
Occupation: Managing director, Proprietor
Hobbies: Skiing, Tennis, Traveling to far away places.

Born in the town of Belinzona in 1969 Massimo Busacca, who used to play football in a lower division in Ticino, started his career as a referee in 1990 and made it to the first division in 1996 . He got his FIFA badge in 1999 and was an Elite Category referee until June 2011 when he decided to retire after having seen it all and having been offered a good job.

Matches

Instead of summing it all up: look at his palmeres.

There was the CL final for instance.

World Cups

Busacca officiated three matches in the first round of the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

The 2010 World Cup was going to his tournament, we expected a quarter or a semi-final. But that didn't happen, Busacca took charge of the group stage match South Africa - Uruguay in which he sent off a South African player and awarded a penalty to Uruguay. By doing so he angered the hosts who must have complained to FIFA (Blatter). Busacca was sent home.

euro 2008

Well, it was held in his own country, so he was to play an important part in it. Unless the Swiss team got far, of course. The Swiss didn't and Busacca got to take charge of 3 matches, 2 in the group stage, and one semi-final. All to somewhat mixed reviews by WorldReferee.com contributors.

style

Unless you are a player, the film "Les Arbitres" is the only way to have a close look at Busacca as a referee. In the film you can see him calling players (by name) to behave themselves, he tells his 4th man, Ivan Bebek, to shut up and he calls someone "Cazzo". All in all you see a passionate man, if a bit chaotic, who becomes even more sympathetic when you see his face after he hears he isn't going to get the final.

"I'm not God", he says in a match a few times, "I make mistakes".

all international matches this century

Click here and see his statistics. It could be Busacca's religious nature, a sense of forgiveness, but in only 1 out of 9 matches Busacca sends off a player; internationally, that's a low mark.

ref of the year (2nd)

Busacca was IFHSS world referee of the year 2009, but most of the IFHSS only watch European matches, at WorldReferee he ended second.

the end

So you got the Champions League final, you were active on two World Cups and a European Cup and you were a pawn in football politics, what else can you strive for?

Busacca could have gone to the 2014 World Cup, having reached 45 by then, but the chance was small. Should he go back to reffing Flora Tallinn against Sheriff Tiraspol?

Massimo retired when he heard he could become head of the FIFA referee committee.

Did you know
BIO

  • Massimo Busacca won WorldReferee's silver whistle in 2009 and again in 2010.
  • While most of his international referee colleagues earned a (good) living as a referee, the Busacca still had a day job as a part time manager of the Ticino civil service canteens. In total he managed three establishments, one is located in his hometown Monte Carrasso.
  • In September 2009 Busacca raised the finger at abusive fans during a match FC Baden - Young Boys. First he denied it, later he apologized. Busacca got a three match ban (and Kudos from WorldReferee).
  • A devout catholic, Busacca believes God helps him to stand on the right spot and make the right decisions. Before he enters the field and also when leaving the field he crosses himself.
  • Massimo Busacca won all sprints among referees during tests in 2006. He once ran the 800 metres in 2.02 minutes and runs at least an hour every day to keep fit.
  • Because of Uzbeki protests against a decision by referee Yoshida in the original WC 2006 qualifier between Uzbekistan and Bahrain, the match was played again. This time Busacca, his 2 Swiss assistants and Claudio Circhetta travelled to Taskent to take charge. Graham Poll got to referee the return match 4 days later.
    Yoshida had disallowed a Uzbeki penalty and awarded a free kick to Bahrain instead.
  • He was elected Swiss non-smoker of the year 2006.
  • When blogger and football musuem director Vuzinho took a walk through Busacca's village Monte Carrasso he spotted this flyer outside the door of the church. It announces a speech by Massimo Busacca in a church in Lugano. According to a local newspaper 400 young people showed up.

  • Part of the movie documentary Les Arbitres was put on Youtube
  • Like Rosetti, Busacca is wearing a cross on his whistle. It just shows how religious Massimo is.

Statistics
Statistics for MASSIMO BUSACCA
Totals Home Away Total
Penalties 10 7 17
Fouls 0 0 0
Yellow 158 198 356
YellowRed 0 0 0
Red 10 9 19
Averages Home Away Total
Penalties 0.09 0.06 0.07
Fouls 0 0 0
Yellow 1.36 1.71 1.53
YellowRed 0 0 0
Red 0.09 0.08 0.08

Based on 116 international matches

Matches
MATCHES FOR MASSIMO BUSACCA
Date Score Yellow Red Penalties Fouls
Euro 2012 qualifiers
AustriaGermany2011-06-031 - 2 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
ScotlandSpain2010-10-122 - 3 3 (3-0)1 (1-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2010-2011
round of 16BarcelonaArsenal2011-03-083 - 1 5 (0-5)1 (0-1)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
group stageGlasgow RangersManchester United2010-11-240 - 1 3 (3-0)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
group stageShakhtarArsenal2010-11-032 - 1 4 (3-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageWerder BremenTottenham Hotspur2010-09-142 - 2 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Super Cup
InternazionaleAtlético de Madrid2010-08-270 - 2 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2010-2011 qualifiers
play-offsDynamo KyivAjax2010-08-171 - 1 4 (3-1)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2010
group stageSouth AfricaUruguay2010-06-160 - 3 2 (2-0)1 (1-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
WC 2010 qualifiers Playoffs
UruguayCosta Rica2009-11-181 - 1 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2009 u17
round of 16Nigeria u17New Zealand u172009-11-055 - 0 1 (0-1)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageUSA u17Malawi u172009-10-291 - 0 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageHonduras u17Argentina u172009-10-240 - 1 6 (2-4)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2009-2010
1/2 finalsLyonBayern Munich2010-04-270 - 3 4 (3-1)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1/4 finalsArsenalBarcelona2010-03-312 - 2 6 (5-1)1 (0-1)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
round of 16Manchester UnitedAC Milan2010-03-104 - 0 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageJuventusBayern Munich2009-12-081 - 4 3 (0-3)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
group stageBarcelonaInternazionale2009-11-242 - 0 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageVfB StuttgartGlasgow Rangers2009-09-161 - 1 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
play-offsCelticArsenal2009-08-180 - 2 4 (3-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Confederations Cup 2009
1/2 finalsBrazilSouth Africa2009-06-251 - 0 4 (3-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageUSABrazil2009-06-180 - 3 1 (1-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2010 qualifiers - Europe
RussiaGermany2009-10-100 - 1 3 (2-1)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
DenmarkPortugal2009-09-051 - 1 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
SpainTurkey2009-03-281 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
ScotlandNorway2008-10-110 - 0 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2008-2009
finalBarcelonaManchester United2009-05-272 - 0 4 (1-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1/4 finalsPortoManchester United2009-04-150 - 1 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1st knockoutPanathinaikosVillarreal2009-03-101 - 2 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageAtlético de MadridPSV2008-11-262 - 1 3 (0-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageCFR ClujBordeaux2008-11-041 - 2 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageZenitReal Madrid2008-09-301 - 2 4 (3-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundLiverpoolStandard2008-08-271 - 0 3 (0-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Euro 2008
1/2 finalsGermanyTurkey2008-06-253 - 2 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageNetherlandsRomania2008-06-172 - 0 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageGreeceSweden2008-06-100 - 2 2 (2-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2007 - 2008
1/4 finalsGetafeBayern Munich2008-04-103 -3 4 (0-4)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2007-2008
1/2 finalsBarcelonaManchester United2008-04-230 - 0 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
1st knockoutSevilla FCFenerbahce SK2008-03-043 - 2 7 (2-5)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageReal MadridLazio2007-12-113 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
group stageSchalke 04Chelsea F.C.2007-11-060 - 0 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageBenficaCeltic2007-10-241 - 0 4 (1-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageBarcelonaLyon2007-09-193 - 0 2 (2-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundAnderlechtFenerbahce SK2007-08-290 - 2 4 (1-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2006 - 2007
finalEspanyolSevilla FC2007-05-162 - 2 5 (2-3)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
round of 16Newcastle UnitedAZ2007-03-084 - 2 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
Euro 2008 qualifiers
SerbiaPoland2007-11-212 - 2 6 (3-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
NorwayGreece2007-09-122 - 2 6 (1-5)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
SpainDenmark2007-03-242 - 1 8 (4-4)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
ScotlandFrance2006-10-071 - 0 3 (3-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2006-2007
1st knockoutPortoChelsea F.C.2007-02-211 - 1 5 (1-4)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageBarcelonaWerder Bremen2006-12-052 - 0 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageBayern MunichSporting2006-10-310 - 0 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stagePSVLiverpool2006-09-120 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundOsasunaHamburger SV2006-08-221 - 1 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2006
round of 16ArgentinaMexico2006-06-242 - 1 6 (2-4)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageSwedenEngland2006-06-202 - 2 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageSpainUkraine2006-06-144 - 0 2 (0-2)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
friendly
ArgentinaPortugal2011-02-092 - 1 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
GermanyEngland2008-11-191 - 2 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
EnglandGermany2007-08-221 - 2 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
RussiaBrazil2006-03-010 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
FranceEgypt2003-04-305 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
GermanyAustria2002-05-186 - 2 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
AustriaCameroon2002-04-170 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
ItalySouth Africa2001-04-250 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2005 - 2006
1/4 finalsSchalke 04Levski Sofia2006-04-061 - 1 4 (1-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
round of 32MarseilleBolton Wanderers2006-02-232 - 1 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2006 qualifiers - Asia
qualifiersUzbekistanBahrain2005-10-081 - 1 1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2005-2006
group stageLille OSCBenfica2005-11-220 - 0 3 (3-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageAnderlechtLiverpool2005-10-190 - 1 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stagePortoArtmedia Petrzalka2005-09-282 - 3 7 (2-5)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundDebrecenManchester United2005-08-240 - 3 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2005 u20
1/2 finalsBrazil u20Argentina u202005-06-281 - 2 6 (2-4)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
round of 16Morocco u20Japan u202005-06-211 - 0 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageColombia u20Syria u202005-06-182 - 0 4 (1-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageEgypt u20Argentina u202005-06-140 - 2 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageHonduras u20Chile u202005-06-110 - 7 3 (3-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2004 - 2005
1/2 finalsParmaCSKA Moskva2005-04-280 - 0 2 (2-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
round of 16SteauaVillarreal2005-03-160 - 0 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2006 qualifiers - Europe
play-offsNorwayCzech Republic2005-11-120 - 1 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Northern IrelandEngland2005-09-071 - 0 4 (3-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Serbia and MontenegroSpain2005-03-300 - 0 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
RussiaEstonia2004-11-174 - 0 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
IcelandSweden2004-10-131 - 4 4 (3-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2004-2005
group stagePortoChelsea F.C.2004-12-072 - 1 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageWerder BremenAnderlecht2004-11-025 - 1 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageCSKA MoskvaPSG2004-09-292 - 0 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundWisla KrakowReal Madrid2004-08-110 - 2 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2003 - 2004
4th roundAuxerrePSV2004-03-111 - 1 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
3rd roundBarcelonaBrøndby2004-03-032 - 1 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2003 u20
round of 16Argentina u20Egypt u202003-12-082 - 1 7 (5-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageSpain u20Uzbekistan u202003-12-041 - 0 4 (0-4)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageCote d'Ivoire u20Ireland u202003-12-022 - 2 2 (2-0)1 (1-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
group stageColombia u20Egypt u202003-11-290 - 0 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2003-2004
group stageBesiktasSparta Prague2003-11-041 - 0 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageReal MadridPartizan2003-10-221 - 0 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundShakhtarLokomotiv Moskva2003-08-131 - 0 5 (2-3)1 (0-1)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
Euro 2004 qualifiers
BelgiumEstonia2003-10-112 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
IsraelSlovenia2003-06-070 - 0 8 (2-6)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
PolandLatvia2002-10-120 - 1 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2002 - 2003
4th roundPortoDenizlispor2003-02-206 - 1 8 (3-5)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
3rd roundLeeds UnitedMalaga2002-12-121 - 2 7 (2-5)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2002-2003
group stageAEKGenk2002-10-301 - 1 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageLokomotiv MoskvaGalatasaray2002-09-180 - 2 2 (2-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2001 - 2002
2nd roundBordeauxStandard2001-10-182 - 0 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
1st roundGaziantepsporHapoel Tel Aviv2001-09-251 - 1 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Euro 2001 u18
group stageCzech Republic u18Serbia and Montenegro u182001-07-211 - 0 2 (1-1)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2002 qualifiers - Europe
Northern IrelandBulgaria2001-06-020 - 1 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Euro 2002 u21 qualifiers
play-offsCzech Republic u21Croatia u212001-11-130 - 0 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Norway u21Poland u212001-03-241 - 2 5 (3-2)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Bosnia-Herzegovina u21Spain u212000-09-010 - 2 4 (1-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2000 - 2001
2nd roundLiverpoolLiberec2000-10-261 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
1st roundRijekaCelta de Vigo2000-09-280 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 1999 - 2000
1st roundTepliceFerencváros1999-09-163 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Euro 2000 u21 qualifiers
Finland u21Germany u211999-09-023 - 1 3 (2-1)2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)