The National Court of the Italian Football Federation has issued a decision to suspend the president of the Italian Referees Association for 13 months, after he was found guilty of pressuring two officials responsible for referee appointments in the third and fourth divisions and forcing them to resign.
According to the court’s published reasoning, he pushed both officials to submit their resignations without any technical or behavioral reasons to do so. The goal of this move was to vacate the two positions in order to appoint two former international referees in their place, which indeed happened.
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This decision comes just one year after he assumed his position in December 2024.
For his part, his legal team announced its intention to appeal the ruling, expressing confidence in the Italian sports judiciary and his innocence of the charges attributed to him.
Italian Referees Association
The Italian Referees Association (Associazione Italiana Arbitri, or AIA) is the governing body responsible for organizing and training football referees in Italy. It was founded in 1911 to bring uniformity and professionalism to officiating in the country’s rapidly growing sport. The AIA sets standards, provides instruction, and oversees the assignment of referees for professional and amateur matches throughout Italy.
National Court of the Italian Football Federation
The National Court of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is the highest judicial body within Italian football’s governing structure. It was established to adjudicate on the most serious sporting disputes and disciplinary matters, such as those related to match-fixing scandals that have periodically affected Italian football. Its rulings are final within the federation’s legal system.
Italian Football Federation
The Italian Football Federation, known as the FIGC, is the governing body for football in Italy, founded in 1898. It organizes the country’s major professional leagues, including Serie A, and oversees the national teams, most notably the men’s *Azzurri*, who have won four FIFA World Cup titles.
Roma
Roma, commonly known as Rome, is the capital city of Italy with a history spanning over 2,800 years. It was the heart of the ancient Roman Empire and later became the center of the Catholic Church, serving as the home of the Vatican City. The city is famed for its historic ruins like the Colosseum and Roman Forum, alongside Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture.
Fiorentina
Fiorentina is the common name for the Italian football club ACF Fiorentina, based in Florence. Founded in 1926, the club has a rich history, winning two Serie A titles and experiencing periods of both domestic and European success. The team is known for its passionate fanbase and plays its home matches at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
