Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), has condemned violence against referees as 'incompatible with the values of sport' following reports of attacks in Campania, Calabria, and Sicily during the final weekend of September 2026. Malagò addressed the issue on the margins of a CONI board meeting, stating that protecting those who enforce the rules is a 'priority of the system' and a matter of 'dignity and respect for the person.'
The incidents have prompted institutional outrage, with calls for concrete action. While the exact number of attacks and specific details of individual cases are not confirmed in the available sources, the Federation has emphasized the need to safeguard match officials across amateur leagues.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC), under Malagò’s leadership, has reiterated its commitment to addressing the issue through systemic measures, including greater accountability from clubs and federations. No new legislation has been enacted in response to the recent events; existing legal frameworks remain in place.
Separately, the Federal Prosecutor's Office of the FIGC has closed its investigation into former referee designator Gianluca Rocchi, following an inquiry linked to the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office, with no charges brought against him.
In a related international context, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has been summoned to a conciliation hearing in Madrid after a defamation complaint by Barcelona. The case concerns remarks made by Pérez about investigations into the Negreira affair, though this is unrelated to events in Italy.
Italian Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi noted that sport reflects broader societal challenges and outlined commitments to combat discrimination, ensure proper training for coaches, and strengthen reporting channels to protect athletes and officials alike.
