Italian Referees Association elect new President for 2025 | OneFootball

The AIA (Italian Referees Association) has today officially elected Antonio Zappi as their new President, replacing Carlo Pacifici.

The former referee and director has been a member of the AIA in various roles for 40 years, even though he is now only 59 years old.

He was able to dominate the election, earning over 72 per cent of the votes from members in today’s meeting.

Italian referees seek new path

VENICE, ITALY – MAY 27: Referee Daniele Orsato makes his way on the pitch with assistants Alessandro Giallatini and Fabiano Preti during the Serie B Playoffs Final match between Venezia FC and AS Cittadella at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on May 27, 2021 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Nicolo Zangirolami/Getty Images)

It was a curious situation, as Pacifici had only taken the role on a temporary basis in April 2023 when previous Referees Association chief Alfredo Trentalange was forced to step down over the D’Onofrio scandal.

That saw chief prosecutor of the AIA Rosario D’Onofrio arrested for being part of an international drug trafficking ring in 2022.

At the time, it emerged D’Onofrio had already been placed under house arrest in 2020, but had somehow successfully hid this when applying for the role with the Referees’ Association.

Trentalange has since been cleared of wrong-doing and therefore was up for re-election, but the AIA opted for a change and voted in numbers for Zappi.