Football : première réunion 2026 des arbitres de la CAN, La Haye dénonce des « attaques inacceptables »

Milan, Jan. 16 (LaPresse) – First meeting of the year for Serie A and B referees. The CAN referees gathered at the Federal Technical Center to carry out their usual training with the Commission led by Gianluca Rocchi. Two days of technical meetings, training, and athletic tests to prepare for the second half of the Championship. According to a statement, the deputy vice president of the AIA, Francesco Massini, and vice president Michele Affinito also attended the meeting in Coverciano. “To paraphrase Gianluca, we strongly reiterate that we are here with you, for you and for the entire AIA,” began Francesco Massini. “Some statements that are circulating deserve clarification. I wrote immediately, on Wednesday, to President Gravina with an institutional greeting, to express my full availability and that of the entire National Committee, hoping for a meeting, and I was very pleased with his immediate and cordial response. As I said to the President on the phone, the AIA has always been an integral part of the Federation. I sincerely regret what happened yesterday: being informed of the meeting just a few minutes before it began caused me real institutional embarrassment, not least because I was busy with work commitments.” To all of you, I can say with absolute clarity and without fear of contradiction that, since the beginning of its mandate, the National Committee has done everything Gianluca has asked to put you in the best possible operating conditions: reduction in the number of referees and assistants, regulatory changes, authorization for all requested meetings, VAR courses, and an increase in staff. All 15 requested meetings were approved back in August. We will continue to listen to all your needs and be proactive, doing everything necessary for you, with the aim of constantly improving, in full compliance with the regulations, availability, and with the AIA always at the center.”