Alessandro Gaucci is paying a high price for his outburst after the league match between Vado and Perugia, which returned to the Gaucci family's ownership last summer. The president of the Umbrian club, which plays in Serie C, had declared: "You have to have some problems in life to be a referee. Now I'm running out of patience. What I saw makes me think the referee was biased."
The punishment for these words was not long in coming. Gaucci was suspended for three months by the sports judge. “A weak referee wouldn’t even be able to referee children’s games in the yard” A real outburst against the referee and the fourth official for two decisions: the red card expulsion of Papazov after only six minutes and the requested, but not awarded, penalty for a foul on Van Amersfoort.
Perugia were defeated by Vado. After the match, Gaucci could not hold back: "What I saw today I have not seen anywhere else. A referee like that cannot be impartial. Even if they suspend me for 100 years, I say what I think. A weak referee would not even be able to referee children's games in the yard. Apparently, my family name continues to annoy some people". Then, he added a few more not very elegant words.
Gaucci suspended until mid-January 2027
The harsh response from the new president of the Italian Referees Association (AIA), Francesco Massini, came quickly. He reiterated that the association stands by the match officials involved in the matter, adding that such statements only fuel a hostile climate towards referees.
The sports judge suspended president Alessandro Gaucci until January 13, 2027, prohibiting him from carrying out any activity within the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), from holding federal positions and from representing the club at federative level. In addition, he was fined 500 euros.
