The FIGC and President Gabriele Gravina would like to send their deepest condolences to the Associazione Italiana Calciatori and the football world following the passing of Sergio Campana, the founder and honorary Chairman of the AIC. Born in Bassano del Grappa in 1934, Campana, nicknamed the Lawyer due to his pursuit of a law degree, spent his playing career at Lanerossi Vicenza and Bologna. After retiring, he began a directorial career in the game when he foundation of the Associazione Italiana Calciatori. As chairman, he enacted Law 91 in 198 to regulate the relationship between clubs and professional players by granting players employee status.

Campana remained the head of the AIC until 2011. During his tenure, he enacted other important reforms, such as the recognition of image rights, the abolition of the ‘vincolo’ (a bond that tied players to a certain club), pensions, the creation of the end-of-career funds, contextual signings, collective agreement, compensation for non-employment, and a guarantee fund.

 “There are people who leave a profound legacy, and Sergio Campana is one of them,” said FIGC President Gabriele Gravina. “At this tragic time, my condolences and support to his family and the friends of the Associazione Italiana Calciatori, which he founded and of which he was the heart and soul for over 43 years. His total commitment throughout the years allowed players to have an ever increasingly important role and to acquire formal rights that had never before been afforded to them. A consummate professional and a great human being, he made a telling contribution to the development of Italian football. Under his luminary guidance, the AIC worked hard to attain the recognition of rights, which are taken for granted today but remain the fruit of the Lawyer’s political vision and determination.”

In 2018, Campana was inducted into the Italian football Hall of Fame in the “Italian Director” category. “This is a great day,” Campana had said. “Way back on 3 July 1968 in Milan, we never thought we’d be here half a century on. It was a long and emotional journey.”