(ANSA) – ROME, NOV 14 – “The Hague must open up to the future with a modern and innovative vision”. It is the extreme synthesis of the thoughts of Antonio Zappi who last November 4th made his candidacy official for the presidency of the Italian Referees Association (Aia), announcing an ambitious program based on five pillars, developed together with the membership base, to respond to the needs of contemporary football: new balance between political management and technical management, economic and managerial autonomy, economic protection for top referees, free access to stadiums with an innovative “special” accreditation, permanent refereeing Erasmus. In particular “for a generation of young referees who are increasingly prepared for the international context. Through sponsorships” Zappi wants to “continue to fuel training projects abroad of which he was the creator, also introducing free English courses for all young people referees”. Finally, Zappi intends to place the protection of referees’ safety at the center of his mandate, with a hard line against the episodes of violence that still afflict Italian football, especially in the lower categories.
For Zappi “the presence of one of our boys on the pitch of a violent team will no longer be taken for granted. The Hague will increasingly be a place of values, growth and opportunities – concludes Zappi – thus summarizing his vision of a association capable of evolving to respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow. Where there is a young person, we will be there”. (HANDLE).