Fabio Facchini

Fabio Facchini was never a basketball player but started refereeing at age 14. He moved up to the Top League, reaching it in 1989. Four years later he became an international referee, officiating at two World Championships, three European Championships, and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he had the honor of refereeing the men’s bronze medal game, Argentina vs. Lithuania.

A strict and uncompromising referee, Facchini was in charge for many top games, including 21 finals for the Italian title, officiating 702 games in the Top League. He ended his international career in 2011 and in Italy a year later.

Facchini was then involved in various roles within the Italian Federation, as a FIBA instructor, was in charge of the Italian Top League referees (2012-15), and was a technician and observer of the refereeing sector. In 2018 he published the book Mai Sotto canestro (Never Under the Bucket).