Giorgio Bernardi

Giorgio Bernardi started refereeing in Serie A in 1941, and was in charge of 179 matches. He became a FIFA international referee in 1947, and the following year won the Giovanni Mauro Award as Best Referee of the Year. Bernardi officiated in two matches at the 1952 Olympics, but his most important international appointment was for the friendly between Hungary and England at Budapest in 1954, which saw the hosts inflict a staggering 7-1 defeat on England.

After his retirement, Bernardi was President of the Bologna Section of the A. I. A. (Associazione Italiana Arbitri), the Association of Italian Football Referees, between 1957-59. He also had the job of designating referees for Serie A matches 1958-62, and was a vice-president of the A. I. A.. Bernardi was also an official of the F.I.G.C. (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio), the Italian Federation of Football. Since 1988, the Giorgio Bernardi Award for the best novice referee in Serie A has been made in his honour.