"Referees attacked": AQIU suspends Italy for six months

The Aquatic Sports Integrity Unit (AQIU) has handed down a severe punishment to the Italian men’s water polo team, known as the "Settebello," suspending them for six months and imposing a $100,000 fine. The decision stems from a serious violation of article 5 of the world aquatics integrity code, which governs sportsmanship and respect for match officials. The incriminating events occurred on August 7, during the intense Olympic quarterfinal match in Paris against Hungary, which ended in Italy’s elimination.

After the defeat, the Italian team filed an appeal, contesting several referee decisions they deemed crucial to the outcome of the match. The game, marked by high tension, saw technical errors from both the referees and the VAR, which, according to the Italian squad, influenced the final result. The appeal was later dismissed, but the frustration persisted.

According to the AQIU’s ruling, coach Sandro Campagna and several players allegedly verbally and physically assaulted the referees in the stadium parking lot as the Italian delegation’s bus was preparing to depart for the Olympic village. This incident further worsened Settebello’s standing, already strained after their elimination.

In addition to the six-month suspension, the team will be excluded from the upcoming world cup, one of the most prestigious competitions in the circuit. The $100,000 fine mandates that half the amount be paid within 90 days of the decision, with the other half becoming due only if further violations occur before October 17, 2026.

In an official statement, the Italian swimming federation (FIN) announced that they will not appeal AQIU’s ruling, implicitly acknowledging the seriousness of the incident and accepting the penalties imposed. FIN also emphasized the "need for the referees to have access to top-level professional technical tools to prevent the recurrence of such egregious and damaging errors for the image of water polo".

Additionally, FIN clarified that "the appeals submitted within 36 hours of the match, although rejected, led to the world aquatics admitting there was no violence or intent in Francesco Condemi’s action, which was therefore legal. The player was not disqualified for the subsequent matches, including the semifinals and finals for fifth and seventh place. Therefore, the 3-3 goal scored by Settebello’s attacker against Hungary was valid; the player should not have been ejected, Italy should not have played four minutes shorthanded, and Hungary should not have been awarded the 4-2 penalty".