The Federazione Italiana Football Sala (FIFS, English "Italian Futsal Federation") is the sports federation that works to promote the sport of futsal in Italy, played under the regulations of the Asociación Mundial de Fútbol de Salón. It organizes national and international tournaments, as well as friendly matches for national teams/selected teams; for clubs it organises amateur events and competitions for disabled. The FIFS has its headquarters in Milan. The current president since July 2009 is Axel Paderni.
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It is the only Italian sports federation recognized by the Asociación Mundial de Fútbol de Salón (AMF) and the only one entitled to use its international trademarks and logos.
Moreover, Its headquarters is in Milan and the current president is Axel Paderni, in office since July 2009.
History of the Federation
The Associazione Italiana Football Sala (AIFS) was founded in 1987 by a group of shareholders led by Giovanni Conticini. Following the recognition by the European Popular Movement, in 1988 the new president Giovanni Caminiti changed the name to Federazione Italiana Football Sala. It was immediately recognized by the international futsal governing body Federação Internacional de Futebol de Salão (FIFUSA). It was among the founders of the Union Europea de Futsal (UEFS).
In 1991, the Federation got even to organize the World Championship in Milan and in 1992 it took part in the European Championship held in Porto (Portugal) from the old Spanish UEFS. In 1994, it took part for the last time in a World Cup organized by FIFUSA, but the result was disappointing because the Italian national team ranked in last place.
It organized 5 times (from 1992 to 1996), in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Italy, the Trofeo Topolino (Mickey Mouse’s Trophy), besides Mediterranean Cup (male and disabled) and the Mundialito Cup.
Concerning the clubs’ competitions, from 1988 to 1998 FIFS sent the teams who won the national championship to participate in the Champions League Cup: in the 1991’s edition the AS Milan ranked seventh, in 1992 and 1993 the same placement was reached by GS Danypel Milan, while in 1995 Sporting Turro finished the tournament in the eighth place.
At the end of the 1990s, due to President Caminiti’s serious health problems, the Federation stopped its agonistic activity and remained dormant until the summer of 2009 when, with the advent of Axel Paderni, its activities started again.
In 2009, it joined the International Futsal World League Association, created in Switzerland with the goal to preserve and promote in the world futsal, working to make more and more athletes play it. It was composed by 15 countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Monaco, Seborga, Switzerland, Tunisia. The history of this association lasted only three years: in September 2012, after the European Mediterranean Cup’s carrying out in Imperia, its dissolution was decreed.
In July 2012, after the AMF’s World Ordinary Congress in Asunción (Paraguay), FIFS received an invitation from Asociación Mundial de Futsal to take part to the world scene: in October 2012, in fact, its entry is ratified.
In November 2013 after 19 years of absence, it participates in the World Female Championship AMF in Barrancabermeja in Colombia, reaching the 12th position and the victory of the Fair Play Cup.
From September 29 to October 3, 2014 it has been engaged in the European UEFS Qualification in LLoret de Mar to participate in the World Championship AMF on April 2015 in Belarus where it has not reached to the National Italian Football Hall Major qualification finishing in 4th place.
The Italian National Under20 participated in October 2014 to the AMF World Cup in Chile finishing the event on the 10th place and, after 20 years of absence from European competitions Officers, it participated in December 2015 at the European Championship for National U21 in Lloret de Mar in Spain finishing at 5th place.
The National Italian Male after 21 years of absence earns a memorable Second place in the European Championship UEFS which was played in Russia in Moscow on May 23 to 28 2016.
Events in Italy
Each year the Federation organizes the Italian Championship for men’s club teams and, at the same time, the "Coppa Italia" (Italian Cup). After the regional phases - that take place between April and May -, the winners of each group will meet in June to stake the trophy in a place that changes every year (in 2012 it took place in Agrate Brianza). The winners of the two events will compete for the Italian Super Cup at the start of next season, while the champions of Italy will have the right to participate in the European Cup, organized every year too (in 2012 in Imperia).
During the season there are various tournaments such as Lombardy Cup, Piedmont Male Cup, the women's teams of the Epiphany Cup, the Carnival Cup, the Mediterranean Cup and the Trofeo San Rocco. In addition, the Italian National Futsal AMF participated in several events organized by the AMF (Asociacion Mundial de Futsal) and its affiliates.
The Federation is very attentive to the disabled and it decided to set up a special National Male participating also with excellent results in several tournaments, so as to give an opportunity of integration to who is often unfairly discriminatedd. It is so decided to organize a national championship dedicated to them: from October to February are played the Phases Center / North and Central / South, while in April it is played the national final.
Every year in November, the Federation organizes a conference with a different theme intended to education, which was also joined by prominent members of the CIP (Italian Paralympic Committee).
Hall of fame FIFS
Established by FIFA in January 2016, it is the recognition award to players, coaches, managers, referees who have contributed to the history of the Italian Futsal.