Daniele Orsato has been appointed as the new head of the refereeing commission for Italy’s Serie A and Serie B, marking another major milestone in the career of one of Europe’s most respected former match officials.
The 50-year-old replaces Gianluca Rocchi, who stepped aside following a self-imposed suspension after becoming the subject of an investigation by the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Orsato’s promotion comes after spending just one season as the refereeing chief for Serie C, with the decision officially approved by the National Committee of the Italian Referees Association (AIA) on the recommendation of the newly-appointed Technical Director Domenico Messina.
He will be supported by an experienced team comprising Luca Banti, Gabriele Gava, Danilo Giannoccaro, together with former assistant referees Ciro Carbone and Alessandro Giallatini, both of whom worked alongside Orsato during his officiating career.
The move is aimed at restoring stability within Italian refereeing at a challenging time, while ensuring continuity ahead of the new domestic season.
Further changes have also been confirmed within the Italian refereeing structure. Nicola Ayroldi has been appointed as the new refereeing chief for Serie C, replacing Orsato, while Stefano Braschi will take charge of refereeing appointments in Serie D.
Widely regarded as one of the finest referees of his generation, Orsato officiated at the highest level of European and international football during his career. He took charge of the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, was selected for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup, and was named the world’s best referee by International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) in 2020.
His appointment now sees him take on one of the most influential roles in Italian football, overseeing referee appointments and performances across the country’s top two professional divisions.
