Claudio Gavillucci, former Serie A referee, spoke to Radio Punto Nuovo about his conflict with the AIA president, Marcello Nicchi: "Last Friday, my AIA card was revoked through the disciplinary appeal committee. The first level sentence was confirmed and my card was revoked forever. There is the last level of judgment, so I'll go ahead. This decision is a punishment for having exercised my right to appeal to the TAR in order to seek compensation for a wrong dismissal suffered. They told me I couldn't do it, but many athletes and clubs do. I did not do it to return to the field, but because I wanted to have a judgment from the civil court and not the sports one, to understand if I had been kicked out following the rules. My lawyer, Gianluca Ciotti, an AIA associate, was also suspended. I dealt with issues such as transparency, the unification of the C.A.N. A and C.A.N. B, the possibility of having the referees speak after the matches. Before letting the referees speak outside, Nicchi should listen to their ideas inside. I have never put myself in opposition to AIA, but my complaints have always been made to improve the association, so much so that they have been accepted, but on Friday I found myself out forever: this is absurd. The TAR is full of sports appeals, but they are not thrown out of their associations because of that".
Gavillucci goes back to talk about Nicchi's contract as a VAR consultant: "The AIA regulation is very clear: the president cannot have as main income something that derives from his office. I don't think I have read any denials and the problem is that this contract is public. I hope that the Federal Prosecutor has opened a file and is investigating; if that is the case, Nicchi would have to resign. He has always declared that he does not receive any income. The problem is that in this way he would have betrayed the trust of his colleagues, who for a derisory reimbursement carry out a volunteer activity of thousands of referees in the area. If it is true, it would be better to understand why he has been there for 12 years without having created an alternation at the top, and it would have to be understood why he wants to re-apply for another 4 years. By 15 January 2021 the new president of the AIA will have to be elected by the presidents of the territorial sections. In numerous sections there are also delegates. Most likely these elections will be called by Nicchi between 15 November and 15 December 2020. The candidate who opposes Nicchi will only have a month to get to know the people who will elect the new president, which would be reduced to just over a week due to parties and closed sections. That sucks, with respect to democracy and a level playing field. The regulation does not give candidates time to campaign or make statements more than 30 days before the election of the president." Nicchi's possible heir is Alfredo Trentalange: "I have heard the rumors, it is an opportunity not to be missed. He has great human skills and techniques also recognized internationally, which is what the AIA most needs. In a democracy, in a free country, there is a need for those who fight in the political vote to have the same opportunities. How do you get around Italy in just over a week, with 200 sections? Someone should ask for a change of regulation and give more time and space to those who oppose the current president, without fear of retaliation. Whoever takes over will have to change this electoral law. I hope there will be a change from a technical point of view, and if Trentalange will really be the next president, considering also the role he plays in FIFA as an instructor, it would give a great opportunity to our country. Will I be new face of governance? I put it in writing in my book and I have always done everything with the aim of improving the AIA, so if they would ask me, I wouldn't back down."
