Italian government pass law giving match officials same level of protection as police officers with fans and players warned violence will lead to time behind bars

Following a rise in cases of assault against referees, the Italian government modified its penal code on Friday (June 20) to give match officials the same legal protection afforded to police officers and other public officials.

Junior justice minister Andrea Ostellari said, via BBC Sport: "Sport is loyalty and sharing. Those who do not accept it are warned: from tomorrow, violent behaviour and aggression against referees will be punished without delay, even with prison."

The law change means the culprits could face harsher penalties for pushing, hitting, or threatening match officials. The government has been in talks with the Italian Soccer Referees Association since December, and now perpetrators could be jailed for their actions.

This comes off the back of Serie A referees saying there had been a rise in the abuse they had been subjected to this season. Individuals may now think twice when targeting officials going forward.