Francesco Massini elected president of the Associazione Italiana Arbitri

Francesco Massini has been elected as the new president of the Associazione Italiana Arbitri (AIA) following a closely contested runoff election in Rome. Massini, a former international futsal referee who had been serving as acting president since May, secured 461 votes against 441 for his challenger, Carlo Pacifici. The election, conducted via a secure electronic voting system, follows the removal of previous president Antonio Zappi.

Massini’s mandate, which runs until 2028, focuses on several key priorities: the professionalization of top-tier referees, increased economic autonomy for the association, and enhanced legal protections for officials. He emphasized that professionalization is “imprescindible e non più rimandabile” (indispensable and no longer postponable), seeking better contractual safeguards and injury protections rather than just higher pay.

In addition to administrative reforms, Massini addressed technical and safety issues. He expressed support for the continued use of VAR, suggesting that clubs could be allowed to request specific episode reviews to increase transparency. He also advocated for mandatory video surveillance in all stadiums to combat violence against match officials.

The new leadership team includes Michele Affinito as Vice President and Francesco Carrieri as Vice President, alongside regional representatives for the North, Center, and South macro-regions.