ROME, December 28 -- Italian eminent soccer referee Pierluigi Collina has been appointed as a consultant for the Italian football referees' association, interim Italian football federation (FIGC) president Luca Pancalli said Thursday.

Collina, who retired as a referee in August 2005, will assist newly-appointed referees chief Cesare Gussoni.

Collina, 46, has been working as a financial advisor since his retirement.

Famed for his bald head and intimidating stare, Collina was regarded as one of the best referees in the world. His proudest moment came when he took charge of the 2002 World Cup final between Brazil and Germany.

Pancalli was hired by the FIGC to clean up the image of Italian soccer after this year's first division league match-fixing scandal.

The scandal involved top flight clubs, FIGC officials and referees.