Ex-referee Abbattista turns on officials

There’s set to be extra controversy over referees after Eugenio Abbattista turned whistleblower on the ‘disgusting issues’ he noticed on the AIA (Italian Referees Affiliation).

Italian tv present Le Iene had already aired interviews with a former official whose id stays unknown, as his face and voice had been disguised.

Now they will air another segment on Thursday, however this time the referee is open about his profession and standing.

Abbattista claims he tended his resignation a number of weeks in the past from the AIA particularly in order that he might be “free to denounce the disgusting issues that had been round me.”

Referees usually are not allowed to talk to the media with out authorisation and Abbattista stated that after repeatedly being denied permission, he took the drastic step of resigning after 24 years of officiating.

He despatched a message to the group chat with a number of colleagues that additionally urged what he has to say can be explosive.

“Getting off a shifting prepare is dangerous. However getting off a prepare that’s caught within the stink of prejudice, victimisation and ungrateful lack of reminiscence is the neatest factor I may do at this level.

“I stroll away simply as I did with the pitch, thanking them for the reward and the chance. Now my precedence is to defend my skilled and managerial picture, my household and to present a lesson to my kids, that in case your conscience is evident, you might be at all times free to your actions and deliberations.

“This isn’t a protest, something however. It’s solely a private have to take care of myself. With the resignation to the AIA, which sadly is at the moment being raped by those that cling to energy in any respect prices, I’m lastly free to be myself and categorical my ideas.

“I can’t want a disguise or to take a seat in shadows to speak, as some others did.”

The 41-year-old from Bari officiated 34 Serie A matches in his profession.