Italian referee Volpi quits at 35, hours after officiating Serie B match | OneFootball

Italian referee Manuel Volpi officially resigned with immediate effect, ‘for a serious personal issue’ just a few hours after officiating a Serie B match between Cremonese and Pisa.

Volpi, a 35-year-old Italian referee with 218 appearances, including 20 in Serie A, quit with immediate effect just a few hours after officiating a Serie B game on Sunday.

“I’ll quit refereeing and any other role in my beloved association,” wrote Volpi just a few hours after the match.

“A 20-year path that has made me the man and the father I am today, ends here. I thank all my colleagues, the President and the lads who dream of arriving in Serie A one day. I thank all the presidents, directors and coaches, from Spalletti to the first two of my debut in the Esordienti.

“I thank the footballers, the champions whom I’ve been proud to meet and all the children I met. You should all remember that we are more disappointed than you when we make mistakes because our only desire is to offer the best possible service to football.

“I thank all footballers who displayed exemplary behaviour in my regards and accepted all I explained to them after the end of the games. Being part of his world was amazing, and it brought me from youth leagues to San Siro. A special thanks to Rocchi, Rizzoli, Morganti, Giannoccaro, Trefoloni, Stefani, Gava, Pacifici, Brighi, Damato and Gervasoni, who accompanied me on this path to Serie A. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

There are reports that Volpi had received threats on social media following Cremonese’s controversial win over Pisa.  Volpi had awarded an early penalty kick to the Grigiorossi following an on-field VAR review and Massimo Coda bagged the winner from a free kick at minute 85, but the visitors complained about the foul that led to the set piece.

The ex-Italian official also explained his decision in an Instagram story: “I’ve quit due to a serious personal issue, and whoever wants to write inaccurate things in any place to discredit my person will have fun with my lawyers.”

Volpi had made his Serie A debut in February 2019 in a 0-0 draw between Chievo Verona and Genoa at the Stadio Bentegodi and collected 14 Serie B appearances this term.