Italian government provides legal protection for the referees after they face continuous abuse in Seri-A matches
Referees in Italy will now receive the same legal protection as police officers and other public officials, Sports Minister Andrea Abodi said, to help curb a rise in cases of assault in sports such as football. A change to the penal code will mean much tougher penalties, including potential jail, for acts of violence against match officials, including pushing, hitting, or threatening. The move follows months of discussions between the government and the Italian Football Referees Association. The law, part of a decree approved by the Italian government late on Friday, extends protection to all officials responsible for ensuring sporting fixtures are conducted fairly. Abuse towards match officials at all levels of Italian football has become a growing concern. In December, Serie-A referees highlighted the issue by wearing black smudges on their cheeks during matches as a symbol of protest. In one notorious example last season, 19-year-old referee Diego Alfonzetti was attacked when he took charge of a youth match in Sicily. Alfonzetti was invited onto the pitch alongside the match officials before the Lazio-Rome Serie A derby in April as an act of solidarity. “Sport is loyalty and sharing. Those who do not accept it are warned: from tomorrow violent behaviour and aggression against referees will be punished without delay, even with prison,” said Senator Andrea Ostellari, a junior justice minister.
Lionel Messi angry with the MLS Referee for accusing him of being unaware of the rule!
Lionel Messi is angry with MLS referees! Messi, irked with referring is generally not seen. But the Argentine lambasted them for the mediocre officiating during Inter Miami’s clash against rivals Orlando City. Struggling Inter Miami drop has dropped to sixth in the Eastern Conference of the MLS and were thrashed 3-0 on home soil by rivals Orlando City. The team conceded five of their last seven matches. In a manner of adding insult to injury, Messi was also booked for dissent in the second half of their walloping against Orlando City: an action that the Argentine took issue with and voiced his concern about. “It was a strange play, where one of their players passed to the goalkeeper, and the referee himself told me he didn’t know the rule, that he didn’t think so, that he didn’t understand it… And, well, that’s where the ball hit the ball and the goal came,” Messi reportedly told Relevo. “But the truth is that sometimes there are specific errors, like the last game, you know? They’re not excuses, but something always happens with the referees on a specific play. I think MLS should look a little more closely at the refereeing issue,” added Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain. After their loss, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who rarely gives interviews after matches, told Apple TV that it’s imperative for the team to stick together. He continued, “It’s a difficult time, but we’re going to come through this,” Messi said in Spanish. “Now we’ll really see if we’re a team. These are difficult times. When everything is going well, it’s very easy, but when difficult times come — like now — we have to be more united than ever, be a real team, and get through it.”
