Zaccagni Was Awarded This Year's Beppe Viola Award

On the morning of November 25, the prestigious Beppe Viola Award ceremony took place at the CONI Hall of Honor. The award, named after the late sports journalist who passed away in 1982, recognizes outstanding footballers, coaches, managers, and media professionals. Among this year’s honorees was Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni, who attended the event alongside Lazio's sporting director, Angelo Fabiani.  

Bruno Molea, president of AiCS, opened the ceremony with a call for greater social awareness, emphasizing the event’s alignment with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. "Enough with violence against women," Molea declared, urging collective responsibility.  

Giovanni Malagò, president of CONI, also addressed the attendees, highlighting the unique stories behind each recipient. During the ceremony, Zaccagni and fellow honoree Giacomo Pisilli expressed their pride in receiving such a meaningful award.  

"It’s a tremendous honor to receive this historic award," Zaccagni told the press. "I want to thank all the professionals who have helped me reach this point, as well as my family for their support."

Italian referee Daniele Doveri was another notable awardee, offering advice to young referees to "officiate matches as if VAR doesn’t exist." The event also honored several other figures, including Sport e Salute president Marco Mezzaroma, former fencing champion Elisa Di Francisca, the president of the Italian Dance Sport Federation Laura Lunetta, the Fondazione Roma, former World Cup winner Giuseppe Bergomi, and journalists Maurizio Pizzuto and Alessandro Antinelli.  

The ceremony celebrated the diverse contributions of its recipients, reflecting both the legacy of Beppe Viola and the broader values of sportsmanship and excellence.