James McClean best watch his step.
The Republic of Ireland take on France on Sunday and, if McClean starts as he did against Italy, he may want to tone down the tenacity with which he throws himself into challenges.
That’s because the referee for Sunday’s last 16 clash has just been announced.
Italy’s Nicola Rizzoli takes charge of the game in the Stade de Lyon and, judging by his willingness to go to his pocket last season, McClean’s tackles had better be timed to perfection.
According to The Daily Mail, Rizzoli issued a total of 10 red cards last season so he’s not one bit afraid of giving a player his marching orders.
Rizzoli does not flash red for every dangerous challenge though because, infamously, he was the man with the whistle when Hector Moreno somehow escaped a sending-off for his leg-breaking tackle on Luke Shaw when PSV met Manchester United in the Champions League group stages last September.
The 44-year-old is held in high regard by legendary Italian official Pierluigi Collina and Rizzoli has been named Serie A referee of the year in each of the past five seasons.
He was also the referee in the 2014 World Cup final, the 2013 Champions League final and the 2010 Europa League final so it’s safe to assume that he knows his stuff.
