The collection of the Football Museum is enriched with a new precious item: the shirt worn by the late referee Stefano Farina. A uniform that increases even more the value of section dedicated to match officials by the Coverciano museum, which already boast the jerseys of the three Italian who have refereed FIFA World Cup finals – Gonella in 1978, Collina in 2002 and Rizzoli in 2014 – in addition to that of an icon of refereeing such as Concetto Lo Bello and to the one worn by the current refereeing designator, Gianluca Rocchi, during his Europa League final.
“Stefano Farina – stressed the federal president, Gabriele Gravina – was an excellent referee, but above all he was a man of great moral principles who made him become a point of reference within the AIA. He wore the referee shirt with passion and respect for others and towards the game of football, which he loved deeply”. Gravina wanted to remember Farina with a message that the president of the Football Museum Foundation, Matteo Marani, read to those present shortly before receiving from his son, Nello Farina, the uniform worn by the ‘Principe’ – as he was nicknamed – in Serie A in the 2007/2008 season. “His experience and contribution will not be forgotten; more than a promise, it is a commitment, along with the contribution of all those who shared its deep values” was one of the most heartfelt passages written by the federal president, while the emotion transpired on the faces of his son Nello, his wife Emilia and Alessandro, son of Emilia who Stefano himself grew up. “I say this without rhetoric: Stefano was one of those people whom the AIA is missing” highlighted the president of the AIA, Antonio Zappi, present for the occasion together with his deputy, Francesco Massini, and the head of CAN, Gianluca Rocchi. “His path, first as a referee and then as a manager – continued Zappi – has really left its mark. The referees of the current generation have somehow all been formed by Stefano.”
Stefano Farina, referee of the Section of Novi Ligure since December 1979, debuted in Serie A in January 1995, refereeing a total of 236 games in the top-flight and 117 in Serie B. He was also a FIFA referee since 2001. He refereed two finals of the Italian Super Cup and the 2006 European Super Cup. After ending his referee career, Farina became UEFA observer, and a representative of the active referees and responsible for CAN B, CAN PRO and CAN D. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 54. His jersey donated to the Football Museum is the one worn during his last season (2007/2008) as a referee in Serie A.
Source: AIA
