Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio
Encyclopedia
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) ( F.I.G.C.), also known as Federcalcio, is the governing body of football in Italy
. It organises the Italian football league
, Coppa Italia
, Italian national football team
, and the Italian women's national football team
. It is based in Rome
, and technical department in Florence
, and is a founding member of UEFA
and a member of FIFA
.
ese capital of Turin
, where Mario Vicary was elected along with Luigi D'Ovidio.
At constitution this football federation was given a different name: Federazione Italiana Football (FIF) just because all play terms and rules were the official FA ones.
In the few short years before and after the introduction of the Federation, clubs all over the country from Genoa
, Turin
, Milan
, Naples
, Rome
, Palermo
, and others were forming.
When in 1909 it was suggested to change the federation's name at annual board elections held in Milan
at the end of August the few teams attending, representing less than 50% the active clubs, decided the sending of a postcard asking all teams to vote for the 5 new names discussed during the meeting. The new name approved was "Federazione Italiana Giuoco del Calcio" and since then this is the name of the Italian Football Federation.
This Italian Federation had always been an amateur federation respecting FIFA rules since became a member in 1905. At the end of World War 1 the federation knew an impressive development and several footballers were judged to be professional players and banned according FIFA agreements.
From 1922 to 1926 new and more severe rules were approved for keeping the amateur status real and effective such as footballer's residence and transfers controls but best players were secretly paid and moved from other provinces illegally. Foreigners had to live in the country in order to get a residence visa and the players's card.
When in 1926 the Italian Federation Board resigned past a very difficult referee's strike, the fascist Lando Ferretti president of the Italian Olympic Committee (C.O.N.I.) nomined a Commission to reform all Leagues and federal rules. The Commission signed a document called the "Carta di Viareggio" (Rules issued in Viareggio
) where football players were recognized as "non-amateurs" and capable to apply for refunds for the money they had lost while playing for the football teams. They had to sign the declaration not being professional players so that FIFA rules were respected because for FIGC they were appearing as "amateurs" receiving just refunds. It was the beginning of the professionism in Italy.
The Carta di Viareggio reduced the number of foreign players to be fielded to just one per match so that the most part of Hungarians remained jobless and got back to their country.
Between 1964 and 1980, foreign players were banned from the Italian league, primarily to revive the national team.
In May 2006, Rossi was chosen and accepted the role of President of Telecom Italia
. This appointment caused angry reactions from club presidents in Italy.
On September 19, Rossi resigned his position as Commissioner of FIGC. On September 21, Luca Pancalli
, head of the Italian Paralympic Committee, was chosen to replace Rossi.
On April 2, 2007, a president was finally elected, with former Vice-President Giancarlo Abete being voted by 264 grand electors out of 271.
On December 2, 2008, the FIGC announced the top ten all time greatest Italian football players. They were (in order):
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It organises the Italian football league
Italian football league system
The Italian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues and national tournaments, set up by the Italian Football Federation , for football clubs in Italy with one club hailing from San Marino.-History:...
, Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
, Italian national football team
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, and the Italian women's national football team
Italy women's national football team
The Italy women's national football team represents Italy in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Italian Football Federation .- Performances in the World Cup :...
. It is based in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and technical department in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, and is a founding member of UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
and a member of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
.
History
The Federation was founded in 1898 when the sport was picking up in the country it needed a formal structure to take football and the local team to the next level. The first presidency was decided in the PiedmontPiedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
ese capital of Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, where Mario Vicary was elected along with Luigi D'Ovidio.
At constitution this football federation was given a different name: Federazione Italiana Football (FIF) just because all play terms and rules were the official FA ones.
In the few short years before and after the introduction of the Federation, clubs all over the country from Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, and others were forming.
When in 1909 it was suggested to change the federation's name at annual board elections held in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
at the end of August the few teams attending, representing less than 50% the active clubs, decided the sending of a postcard asking all teams to vote for the 5 new names discussed during the meeting. The new name approved was "Federazione Italiana Giuoco del Calcio" and since then this is the name of the Italian Football Federation.
This Italian Federation had always been an amateur federation respecting FIFA rules since became a member in 1905. At the end of World War 1 the federation knew an impressive development and several footballers were judged to be professional players and banned according FIFA agreements.
From 1922 to 1926 new and more severe rules were approved for keeping the amateur status real and effective such as footballer's residence and transfers controls but best players were secretly paid and moved from other provinces illegally. Foreigners had to live in the country in order to get a residence visa and the players's card.
When in 1926 the Italian Federation Board resigned past a very difficult referee's strike, the fascist Lando Ferretti president of the Italian Olympic Committee (C.O.N.I.) nomined a Commission to reform all Leagues and federal rules. The Commission signed a document called the "Carta di Viareggio" (Rules issued in Viareggio
Viareggio
Viareggio is a city and comune located in northern Tuscany, Italy, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. With a population of over 64,000 it is the main centre of the northern Tuscan Riviera known as Versilia, and the second largest city within the Province of Lucca.It is known as a seaside resort...
) where football players were recognized as "non-amateurs" and capable to apply for refunds for the money they had lost while playing for the football teams. They had to sign the declaration not being professional players so that FIFA rules were respected because for FIGC they were appearing as "amateurs" receiving just refunds. It was the beginning of the professionism in Italy.
The Carta di Viareggio reduced the number of foreign players to be fielded to just one per match so that the most part of Hungarians remained jobless and got back to their country.
Between 1964 and 1980, foreign players were banned from the Italian league, primarily to revive the national team.
Recent years
The FIGC was placed in administration in May 2006 as a result of the Serie A scandal of 2006 and was put under the management of Guido Rossi.In May 2006, Rossi was chosen and accepted the role of President of Telecom Italia
Telecom Italia
Telecom Italia is the largest Italian telecommunications company, also active in the media and manufacturing industries. Now a private concern listed on the Borsa Italiana, it was founded in 1994 by the merger of several state-owned telecommunications companies, the most important of which was...
. This appointment caused angry reactions from club presidents in Italy.
On September 19, Rossi resigned his position as Commissioner of FIGC. On September 21, Luca Pancalli
Luca Pancalli
Luca Pancalli is a sports manager and former swimmer. He is currently the Commissioner of the Italian Football Federation....
, head of the Italian Paralympic Committee, was chosen to replace Rossi.
On April 2, 2007, a president was finally elected, with former Vice-President Giancarlo Abete being voted by 264 grand electors out of 271.
On December 2, 2008, the FIGC announced the top ten all time greatest Italian football players. They were (in order):
- Giuseppe MeazzaGiuseppe MeazzaGiuseppe "Peppino" Meazza , also known as il Balilla, was an Italian footballer playing mainly for Internazionale in the 1930s, scoring 242 goals in 365 games for the club. He led Italy to win two World Cups: in 1934 and in 1938, winning the Golden Ball Award in 1934. He is widely considered the...
- Luigi RivaLuigi RivaLuigi Riva , best known as Gigi Riva or by his nickname Rombo di Tuono , is a former Italian footballer, the all-time leading scorer for the Italian national team...
- Roberto BaggioRoberto BaggioRoberto Baggio is a retired Italian footballer. Widely regarded as one of the finest footballers of his generation, Baggio won both the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 1993. He is the only Italian player ever to score in three World Cups. He is also one of the top 5 all-time...
- Paolo MaldiniPaolo MaldiniPaolo Cesare Maldini is an Italian former footballer who played as a left or central defender. He spent all 25 seasons of his career at Serie A club Milan, before retiring at the age of 41 in 2009, becoming a symbol and a legend of the club...
- Giacinto FacchettiGiacinto FacchettiGiacinto Facchetti was an Italian football player. From January 2004 until his death, he was President of Internazionale, the club for which he played for his whole career during the 1960s and 1970s, playing 634 official games and scoring 75 goals. He played for the Internazionale team remembered...
- Sandro Mazzola
- Giuseppe BergomiGiuseppe BergomiGiuseppe Bergomi is a retired Italian footballer who spent his entire career at Internazionale, being equally at ease as a central or right defender....
- Valentino MazzolaValentino MazzolaValentino Mazzola was an Italian footballer and captain of the legendary Grande Torino side, killed in the Superga air disaster. He is considered one of the best football players of all time and perhaps the first modern all-around footballer, as he was an attacking midfielder who could score,...
- Marco Tardelli
- Paolo RossiPaolo RossiPaolo Rossi is an Italian former football striker. In 1982, he led Italy to the 1982 FIFA World Cup title, scoring six goals to win the Golden Boot/top scorer honors, and the Golden Ball. After his performance at the 1982 FIFA World Cup he became a hero in the hearts of all Italians...
Honors
- World Cup: 4 times (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)
- European Football ChampionshipUEFA European Football ChampionshipThe UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
: once (1968) - Olympics: once (19361936 Summer OlympicsThe 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
) - Dr. Gerö Cup: twice (1927–1930, 1933–1935)
External links
- Official site
- Italy at FIFA site
- Italy at UEFA site
- Italian calcio glossary