On June 19, the Italian Council of Ministers approved an amendment to Article 583-4 of the “Sports Law,” officially recognizing referees as “public officials.”
Going forward, anyone who assaults a referee during a match could face up to 16 years in prison.
The amendment, approved by the Council of Ministers, equates referees (and “other personnel ensuring the technical compliance of sports events”) with public officials. Although the proposal had existed for some time, it was the firm advocacy of Italian Referees Association (AIA) President Antonio Zappi that pushed it forward, with the support of Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, ultimately leading to its inclusion in the Sports Law.
Under the new rules, those who commit violence against referees will face the following penalties:
• Minor injuries: 2 to 5 years in prison
• Serious injuries: 4 to 10 years in prison
• Severe injuries: 8 to 16 years in prison
AIA President Antonio Zappi said:
“I’m extremely happy and moved by the passage of this historic law. Protection for referees has finally been written into the Penal Code. I sincerely thank Minister Abodi, the government, and all those who supported this civilizing battle — regardless of their political affiliation.”