The National Coordination of the Referees` Union, represented by Duccio Baglioni and Giuseppe Fonisto, has strongly condemned the recent brutal act of violence against a referee. During an official match, the referee was attacked with a chair to the back and neck, then punched in the face and head.
The assault continued with a bite to the shoulder, the referee was thrown against a wall, and finally kicked repeatedly in the chest while on the ground. The Referees` Union expresses full solidarity with the victim and emphasizes that such incidents are not isolated events or mere `on-field tensions.` The seriousness of what happened necessitates urgent and decisive actions to protect referees as sports workers, including the possibility of national strikes, regardless of ongoing regulatory changes.
There is no longer time for tolerance or underestimation. They demand concrete and immediate action from sports and civil institutions: preventive measures, protection, and significant penalties for those who assault individuals called upon to enforce the rules. Violence cannot be an acceptable variable of the game. Referees deserve respect, protection, and dignity.
