Referee Doveri receives the Bulgarelli Award: “I set an example for young people.”
I am the referee with the most appearances in Serie A, the most experienced, and the oldest: my job is to set an example on the pitch, to pass on my experience to young referees entering Serie B and Serie A, so that the process of renewal continues." Referee Daniele Doveri said this as he received the 'Bulgarelli Number 8' award, named after Bologna's historic number 8 and a founder of the AIC (Italian Footballers' Association), which organizes it, for the best referee. "I am proud to receive an award named after Bulgarelli," Doveri said, adding that he remembers the player as "an extremely upright person" and, he added, "recovering the values of the past and projecting them into the future is key." The recipients for the 2025-2026 season are Kenan Yildiz of Juventus as best male player and Martina Rosucci as best female player, who delivered a video message to the audience during the ceremony underway at Bologna City Hall. Among the coaches, the winners were Cesc Fàbregas of Como for the men's Serie A, who also delivered a video message of thanks, and Gianluca Grassadonia of Lazio for the women's football. The ceremony was attended by Fabio Capello, president of the award, Umberto Calcagno, president of the AIC, Maurizio Fabbri, president of the Emilia-Romagna Legislative Assembly, and Roberta Li Calzi, Councilor for Sport for the City of Bologna. Doveri concluded with an appeal against violence in football: "I want to raise a voice against this scourge that afflicts the football system. There is no room for violence in sport."