The FIGC has decided to openly side with referees in Italy after various incidents in Serie A games led to outcry from clubs and fans.
Whilst officiating controversies are nothing new, this weekend’s action has added further fuel to the fire, starting with referee Marco Di Bello’s disaster class performance in the match between Lazio and Milan on Friday evening, where he brandished 11 yellow cards and three red cards.
Other incidents in Juventus’ loss to Napoli and Inter’s win over Genoa further frustrated supporters, who are growing increasingly tired with the seemingly poor standard of officiating in the Italian topflight.
To much amusement, Di Bello will be on the officiating team for Real Madrid’s Champions League match with RB Leipzig, despite being handed a one-month ban in Serie A.
As reported by Corriere dello Sport via Calciomercato.com, the FIGC are not happy with the state of discourse surrounding referees in Italian football and will meet with the AIA – the Italian Referees’ Association – in Rome to discuss the situation and what can be done.
The referees have become embroiled in a larger political scandal between Lega Serie A and the FIGC, with the former threatening to split away and rely on a third party, something spearheaded by Lazio president Claudio Lotito.