Italy's government has changed the penal code so that harsher penalties can be imposed for violence and threats against match officials. Imprisonment will be included in the penalty scale.
They should be treated like police officers, so that those who attack them can be punished accordingly, says the country's sports minister Andrea Abodi, according to the news agency NTB.
The change occurs after months of discussions between the government and the Italian football referees' association, reports the news agency Reuters on its website.
There has been an increase in violence and threats against referees, particularly in Italian football, in recent years.
The law change does not only apply to football, but to all sports. Assistant referees and other persons responsible for safety at sports events are also included.
