Official: Italian Referees Association elect new President Massini

Official: Italian Referees Association elect new President Massini The Italian Referees’ Association (AIA) have elected Francesco Massini as their new President, narrowly beating Carlo Pacifici in the vote. The general assembly was held today and the election was sealed at the second vote in Rome. Italian referees in chaos BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 12: Referee Simone Sozza checks the pitch side VAR monitor during the Serie A match between Atalanta and AS Roma at Gewiss Stadium on May 12, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) It has been a frankly chaotic time for the Italian Referees’ Association, who have gone through a series of leaders since Alfredo Trentalange took the job in February 2021. He resigned in December 2022, replaced by Pacifici from 2023 to 2024, then Antonio Zappi from December 2024 until his 13-month ban in January 2026. That was for putting undue pressure on former Serie C designator Maurizio Ciampi and ex-Serie D designator Alessandro Pizzi to resign in December 2024. PISA, ITALY – MARCH 2: General view of the referee’s VAR monitor inside the Arena Garibaldi stadium in Pisa during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and Bologna FC 1909 at Arena Garibaldi on March 2, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) Massini had two more votes than Pacifici in the first ballot, but won the second with 461 votes to 441. The new vice presidents of the AIA are Michele Affinito and Francesco Carrieri. Curiously, Massini was only ever a referee for five-a-side football, overseeing more than 200 Serie A games and 110 at international level in this sport.