Politis

Italian Referees Association President Suspended for 13 Months

Published January 23, 2026, 17:20
Italian Referees Association President Suspended for 13 Months

Antonio Zappi, president of the Italian Referees Association (AIA), has been suspended for 13 months by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The decision was made due to his pressure and instigation of two referees from Serie C and Serie D to resign, in order to be replaced by others. According to the FIGC, Zappi persuaded referees Alessandro Pizzi and Maurizio Ciampi to resign without valid reason, in order to facilitate the appointment of Daniele Orsato and Stefano Brassi to the respective positions. Both of the latter are former international referees. Zappi, who took office in December 2023, is expected to appeal the decision. His legal team stated that they respect the decision, but trust the sporting regulations and the presumption of innocence. This case highlights issues of transparency and integrity in Italian refereeing and is expected to spark debate about the appointment and evaluation process of referees.

Share:
Read Full Article on Politis

You Might Also Like

Back to News