Antonio Zappi, the President of the Italian Referees’ Affiliation (AIA), has been
The weird scenario unfolding leaves the organisation in control of Italian referees in disarray.
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The Nationwide Federal Tribunal immediately absolutely accepted the proposed punishment of a 13-month ban requested by the FIGC Prosecutor.
Referees in search of management after Zappi ban
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 11: Match referee, Daniele Doveri exhibits Antonio Conte, Head Coach of SSC Napoli, (not pictured) a crimson card throughout the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
Zappi was accused of placing undue stress on former Serie C designator Maurizio Ciampi and ex-Serie D designator Alessandro Pizzi to resign from their positions in December 2024.
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This was in order that he might deliver of their replacements and transfer them into new roles, however as their contracts have been nonetheless working, he urged them to resign as a substitute.
The entire scenario was even stranger as a result of the ex-AIA affiliate who initially introduced the matter to the FIGC Prosecutor later denied he’d executed so, claiming his id was stolen, however the proof was used anyway to start the investigation.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 08: Referee Maurizio Mariani speaks to Christian Pulisic of AC Milan throughout the Serie A match between AC Milan and Genoa CFC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photographs)
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Zappi stays in his function, as a result of that is solely the primary stage of judgment and he’ll lodge an enchantment, however is on the identical time not in a position to really carry out any of his duties throughout the ban.
is due to this fact at the moment within the palms of his assistant Francesco Massini awaiting the enchantment.
Zappi insisted he had “acted rigorously and persistently within the pursuits of the Affiliation, with the mandate to resume the organisation.”