FIFA dismissed reports that FIFA’s chairman of the referees committee Pierluigi Collina was going to adopt a child in Armenia.

“Pierluigi Collina and FIFA categorically deny these facts, which in no way correspond to the truth,” FIFA’s media office said in a statement.

“Speaking of Pierluigi Collina as a family man, we are talking about a 59 years old father and grandfather, who has never thought to adopt a child even though he considers child's adoption as a high commendable action.  As far as FIFA is concerned, it condemns in all forms the propagation of such fake news. Such action unjustly puts in a bad light a character highly respected and admired in the world of sport,” the statement says.

The reports were previously dismissed by Armenia’s Ministry of Justice.