The Museum's collection is enriched with a new precious item: the shirt worn by late referee Stefano Farina. An object that further adds to the section dedicated to match officials housed at the Coverciano museum, which already boasts the shirts of three Italian referees who have officiated World Cup finals - Gonella in 1978, Collina in 2002 and Rizzoli in 2014 - as well as, among others, the shirt of referring icon Concetto Lo Bello and the shirt worn by the current referee designator, Gianluca Rocchi, during the Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal in May 2019.

FIGC President, Gabriele Gravina, stated: “Stefano Farina was an excellent referee, but above all, he was a man of great moral principles that made him a key figure within the AIA. He wore the referee kit with passion and respect for others and for the game, which he loved deeply”. Gravina wished to remember Farina with a message that the President of the Fondazione Museo del Calcio, Matteo Marani, read out to those present shortly before receiving from his son, Nello Farina, the shirt worn by the ‘Principe’ (the Prince) - as he was nicknamed - in Serie A in the 2007/2008 season. “His experience and his contribution will not be forgotten: more than a promise, it is a commitment, which I feel I can guarantee with the contribution of all those who shared his profound values,” - this was one of the most heartfelt passages written by Gravina, emotion visible on the faces of his son Nello, his wife Emilia and Alessandro, Emilia's son whom Stefano himself raised.

“I say this without any rhetoric: Stefano is one of those people that the AIA misses,” pointed out AIA President Antonio Zappi, who was in attendance along with his deputy, Francesco Massini, and the Head of CAN, Gianluca Rocchi. Zappi continued: “His journey, first as a referee and then as a manager, has really left its mark. The officials in this generation of referees were all in some way shaped by Stefano”.

“As the President of the Fondazione Museo del Calcio, it is with great pleasure that I receive this donation. It is an object of particular importance, representing his last season as a referee in Serie A. I remember Stefano Farina well, as a person with composure and class of the highest level. For him, being a referee went beyond the pitch, with his ethics, his behaviour and his principles,” - this was the recollection of Matteo Marani, who before the ceremony showed those present around the Football Museum, illustrating the history and kits in a now even greater collection.

Career. Stefano Farina was a referee from the Novi Ligure Section since December 1979, and made his Serie A debut in January 1995, refereeing a total of 236 Serie A and 117 Serie B matches. He was a UEFA Elite international referee. He directed two Italian Super Cup finals and the 2006 European Super Cup final. A UEFA scout, he was a representative for active referees and responsible for CAN B, CAN PRO and CAN D. The shirt donated to the Football Museum was worn during his last season as a match official in our top division: the 2007/08 season.