FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Serie A - Como v Inter Milan - Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como, Italy - May 23, 2025 Como's Gabriel Strefezza is shown a yellow card by referee Davide Massa after Como's Pepe Reina is sent off REUTERS/Claudia Greco/File Photo
ROME (Reuters) -Referees in Italy will now receive the same legal protection as police officers and other public officials, Sports Minister Andrea Abodi said, to help curb a rise in cases of assault in sports such as soccer.
A change to the penal code will mean much tougher penalties, include potentially jail, for acts of violence against match officials, including pushing, hitting, or threatening. The move follows months of discussions between the government and the Italian Soccer Referees Association.
