Problems with Football Referees in Italy

May 9, 2026, 14:02
EuropeSports

Introduction

Police in Milan are looking for cheating in football. Also, a woman referee says her bosses were unfair to her.

Main Body

Police are studying two men, Gianluca Rocchi and Andrea Gervasoni. They think these men chose referees to help some teams win. Police listened to their phone calls. They want to know if Inter Milan helped choose the referees. Manuela Nicolosi was a professional referee. She did 200 matches. But she says her bosses did not promote her. They told her she was too pretty. This stopped her from getting a better job. Manuela also says people were mean to her. They shouted at her and threatened her. She was 20 years old. She left Italy and went to another country to work.

Conclusion

The police are still working on the case. Manuela's story shows that women had a hard time in Italian football.

Learning

⚡ The Power of 'TOO'

In the story, Manuela was told she was too pretty.

When we use too + adjective, it means something is more than enough and it causes a problem.

  • Too pretty → So pretty that it was a problem for her job.
  • Too hot → You cannot drink the coffee.
  • Too tired → You cannot study.

🛠️ Action Words: Now vs. Then

Look at how the story changes from the current situation to the past.

Right Now (Present)

  • Police are looking for cheating.
  • Police are studying two men.
  • Police want to know.

Before (Past)

  • Manuela did 200 matches.
  • Bosses did not promote her.
  • People shouted at her.
  • She left Italy.

Pattern: Work → Worked (Regular) Do → Did (Irregular) Leave → Left (Irregular)

📝 Simple Word Swaps

To sound more like an A2 speaker, notice these connections:

  • Mean → Not kind → Unfriendly
  • Unfair → Not right → Not equal
  • Promote → Give a better job → Move up

Vocabulary Learning

police (n.)
Law enforcement officers who keep the peace
Example:The police arrived at the scene to investigate.
football (n.)
A sport played with a ball and two teams
Example:Many people watch football matches on television.
referee (n.)
The official who watches a game and makes decisions
Example:The referee blew his whistle to start the game.
cheating (n.)
The act of lying or breaking rules to win
Example:The coach was accused of cheating during the match.
boss (n.)
A person who manages or directs others
Example:Her boss gave her a new assignment.
unfair (adj.)
Not just or equal for everyone
Example:He felt the decision was unfair.
professional (adj.)
Having skill and training in a job
Example:She is a professional referee with many years of experience.
match (n.)
A game or contest between teams or players
Example:They played a football match last weekend.
promote (v.)
To help someone advance to a higher position
Example:The manager decided to promote her to a senior role.
pretty (adj.)
Attractive or pleasing to look at
Example:She was told she was too pretty for the job.