AIPS President Merlo honours Marotta and Zambrotta at Milan fair play awards

MILAN, Italy — International Sports Press Association (AIPS) President Gianni Merlo honoured Inter Milan President and Chief Executive Giuseppe Marotta and former Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta at the 31st Gentleman Fair Play Awards, held at the Teuliè Military School in Milan on Wednesday, 7 October.

Merlo presented the AIPS International Gentleman Award to Marotta, recognising an executive whose career has been closely associated with Italian professional football.

Accepting the award, Marotta spoke about the passion that had shaped his career since childhood. He also acknowledged the colleagues working behind the scenes at Inter, describing them as an essential part of the club’s success.

During the ceremony, Merlo asked Marotta about Inter’s ambition to win another treble comprising Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League.

Marotta described winning all three competitions as a dream, while stressing that the club’s responsibility was to make its best effort.

Merlo also presented the Gentleman Lifetime Achievement Award to Gianluca Zambrotta, marking the 20th anniversary of Italy’s victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Zambrotta, who played for Bari, Juventus, Barcelona and AC Milan, was part of the Italian side that defeated France in the World Cup final.

The ceremony recalled that achievement and the contribution of the generation of players who secured Italy’s fourth men’s world title.

The evening’s principal domestic honour, the 2025/26 Serie A Gentleman Fair Play Award, went to Inter defender Federico Dimarco, ahead of fellow finalists Luka Modrić, Manuel Locatelli and Edoardo Motta.

Dimarco attributed individual recognition to the collective efforts of his team.

Inter midfielder Piotr Zieliński received both the club’s Gentleman Award and its Best Goal of the Season Award.

Other winners included Milan’s Adrien Rabiot, Juventus midfielder Kenan Yıldız and Monza’s Pedro Obiang, who received their respective club Gentleman Awards.

Arianna Fontana, the Italian short-track speed skating champion, received the CONI Lombardia Gentleman Award.

Andrea Fulignati was recognised in the Serie B category, while Serie C club Alcione Milano received a special award for a charitable initiative commemorating Chiara Costanza, a young victim of the Crans-Montana tragedy.

The ceremony also paid tribute to Italian football figures Franco Baresi and the late Sandro Mazzola.

Marotta presented the Gentleman Sportsman Memorial Award dedicated to Mazzola to his son Sandro.

Como midfielder Nico Paz received the special Gianluca Vialli Award, presented by Vialli’s nephew Riccardo.

The awards were established in 1996 by Gianfranco Fasan and have developed into an annual event celebrating respect, loyalty and sporting conduct.

This year’s ceremony also supported the work of In Campo con il Cuore, an association promoting access to life-saving defibrillators and improved cardiac emergency preparedness in Milan.

The participation of the AIPS President reflected the role of sports journalism in recognising conduct and contributions that extend beyond results on the field.