The FIGC’s commitment in supporting Ukraine and its football federation continues as packages arrive close to the border of Ukraine. In wanting to help out in a tangible way, employees of the Federation have collected and donated medicines and food over the last few weeks, and they are set to be distributed in areas affected by the conflict. The delivery has been supplemented by FIGC sponsor Esselunga with other alimentary goods. The group GE.SE.AV., FIGC’s official logisitics supplier, has provided land transport for the goods free of charge.

THE FIGC FOR UKRAINE.The Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio has launched several initiatives recently to show its support to Ukraine, such as delaying the start of games by five minutes in all leagues across the pyramid on the weekend of 26-27 February, as a sign of peace when the conflict started.

With the support of UEFA, the FIGC took appropriate steps in allowing Ukraine’s Under-17s to safely reach Italy ahead of the European Championship second qualifying phase from 20 to 26 April in the province of Siena. The Italian National Team bus drove to Zahony, a town in Eastern Hungary that borders Ukraine, where some members of the Ukrainian delegation, as well as staff members and certain players, got on board. The bus then stopped off in Budapest and then Zagreb, picking up further young players currently residing outside of the country, before reaching the Coverciano Technical Centre in the afternoon. Here, the Ukrainian Under-17 squad trained using the logistical support made available by the FIGC.

In collaboration with the Italian Red Cross, the FIGC has sent to Ukraine in the last few weeks 10,000 pieces of sports items with a value of around €222,000.

In its partnership with ‘Bambino Gesu’, the Federation donated a part of the proceeds from the match played between Italy and North Macedonia (€21,000) to the children’s hospital to assist efforts to admit Ukrainian children and families fleeing the war.

Immediately after the start of the war, the Federation established that minors from Ukraine could become registered members at amateur level and in the Youth and School Sector until the end of the season. The FIGC also announced it would cover membership fees and insurance costs.

Thanks to the joint efforts of UEFA, the FIGC and the Italian Referees’ Association, Italy opened its doors to Ukrainian referee Kateryna Monzul, who has been able to continue her career and leave behind the logistical difficulties caused by the conflict. One of the best female referees in Europe, Monzul made her debut in Italy on 20 March, when she took charge of the women’s Serie A TimVision match between Inter and Sampdoria. Furthermore, the legal procedure for inserting three other female referees settled in Bologna has also begun.