Francois Letexier won the sixth edition of the Giulio Campanati International Prize. The French was judged as the best referee of the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany by the Association “Friends of Giulio Campanati” and the AIA section of Milan “Umberto Meazza-Giulio Campanati”, composed of journalists, sports managers, representatives of the refereeing world and great referees of the past. Letexier, the youngest ever referee awarded the prize, has confidently refereed the Spain-England final after three games in the group stage.
The award was first established at the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, to commemorate President Giulio Campanati, former international referee, head of the AIA from 1972 to 1990, and UEFA executive from 1968 to 1992, who died in October 2011. The initiative, organized by the Association “Friends of Giulio Campanati” and the AIA section of Milan “Giuseppe Meazza-Giulio Campanati” with the patronage of FIGC and La Gazzetta dello Sport, aims to recognize the commitment and dedication of the 23rd person on the field, just as Giulio Campanati did, who worked hard to increase and strengthen the refereeing in Italy. The winner of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and the 2016 European Championship in France was the Italian Nicola Rizzoli, while the Prize for the third edition, at the 2018 World Cup, went to the Argentine referee Nestor Pitana. At the 2020 European Championship, the prize was awarded to the Dutch Bjorn Kuipers and the 2022 Qatar World Cup prize was awarded to Daniele Orsato. The French referee Francois Letexier, born in 1989, will be awarded the prize in Milano during the 2024/2 season.
Born in Milano, on 15 June 1923, Giulio Campanati was a leading referee in the 1950s and 1960s. After his debut in the Italian topflight in 1952, four years later he became FIFA referee, participating in club competitions such as the Cup Winners' Cup and European Cup and between national teams at the 1960 Olympics, the year in which he won the "Giovanni Mauro" Foundation Award, the highest Italian referee award. After ending his activity on the field, he continued his commitment as designator of the Serie A referees for 5 years; in 1972 he became president of the Italian Association of Referees, remaining at the helm until the end of the 1990 World Cup, hosted by Italy. At the same time, Campanati was a member of the FIFA Referees Committee from 1968 to 1992 and, at the same time, chairman of the UEFA Referees Committee, receiving the Order of Merit in 2000. A strong supporter of the values of associationism and volunteering in sport, during his almost 20 years at the helm of the Italian refereeing organization, Campanati undertook a deep reorganization and strengthening of the AIA, bringing the sections scattered throughout the territory from 90 to over 200 and the number of members from 8,000 to more than 30,000. It was Campanati, almost at the end of his very long term, who welcomed women referees on the field for the first time in Italy. After the death of Giulio Campanati, a group of former referees and friends of the ‘Presidentissimo’ decided to start the Association in his memory. With the involvement of the Campanati family, in April 2014, on the eve of the World Cup in Brazil, the Association “Friends of Giulio Campanati” was born, which over the years has involved leading representatives of the football world. It is chaired by his son, Giorgio Campanati, while the vice-president is Cesare Gussoni, former international referee, at the helm of the AIA from 2006 to 2009.
Source: AIA