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Sicily national football team
The Sicily national football team (Sicilian: Naziunali Siciliana di Palluni) is the representative football team of the island of Sicily. It is controlled by the Sicilia Football Association and is also colloquially referred to with the name Naziunali Siciliana. The Sicilia F.A. was founded in 2020. It is not affiliated with either FIFA or UEFA and is therefore not allowed to participate in either the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA European Championship. However, since June 2021 the Sicilia F.A. has been associated with the CONIFA, from which in October 2023, just two years later, he announced his exit with regret and disappointment, after having denounced in an unequivocal press release his lack of seriousness and not having taken part in any official competition, and that he wanted to travel paths for international recognition, and the desire to compete in serious and challenging competitions. HistoryIn the past, the idea of creating a Sicilian national team has been already proposed by some journalists and Sicilianist circles.[2][3][4] The current project started in 2019 following the first contacts with CONIFA.[5] The project was born thanks to the synergy of a Founding Committee from the three metropolitan cities of Sicily: Palermo, Catania and Messina. The official foundation of the Sicilia F.A. dates back to 15 May 2020, while the public activities were launched in 2021. At the foundation Salvatore Mangano from Messina was chosen as President, Angelo Priolo and Fabio Petrucci from Palermo as Vice-president and General Secretary, while Alberto L'Episcopo from Catania – a former Manager of the Serie A team Chievo Verona – is the General Manager.[5] Mario Bonsignore – former President of A.C. Ancona, Manager of F.C. Messina and Marketing Manager of the Malta Football Association – is the General Consultant of the Sicilia F.A. Pietro Cannistrà and Benedetto Bottari – protagonists of the S.S. Milazzo’s promotion to the Lega Pro – are respectively Head of the Sporting Area and Team Manager. One of the main goals of the Sicilia F.A. is the promotion of the Sicilian national identity through football. Indeed, the initiative of the Sicilian national football team is based on the idea that Sicily represents a stateless nation with its own geographical peculiarities, history, language and culture.[6] The Sicilia F.A. has already signed partnerships with the "Accademia della Lingua Siciliana" ("Academy of the Sicilian Language") and the Cultural Association "Lu Statutu" in order to realize its goal. Very soon, the birth of the Sicilia F.A. inspired the fantasies of the media about the international players that theoretically could wear the jersey of the team, from Mario Balotelli to Vincenzo Grifo.[6][7] The first two football associations that acknowledged the Sicilia F.A. were the national football teams of Sardinia and Corsica. The Global Executive Committee of the CONIFA accepted Sicily as a member association on 27 June 2021.[8] The Sicilia F.A., with a futsal selection, is one of the six participants to the 2021 CONIFA No Limits Mediterranean Futsal Cup.[9] 18 October, 2023, Sicily announced it had withdrawn from CONIFA after not featuring in any CONIFA tournament.[10] Colours and logo The official colours of the Sicilian national football team are red and yellow, like the flag of Sicily. The logo of the Sicilia F.A. is based on the flag of the Sicilian Vespers and contains the motto “Animus Tuus Dominus”, used by the Sicilian rebels during the anti-Angevin revolution. KitsThe Sicilia F.A. announced three football jerseys, all dedicated to the history of Sicily.[7]
EYE Sport is the official kit supplier of the Sicily national football team.[11] Fixtures and resultsThis is a list of results for the matches played since 2022, including friendly matches against full FIFA international teams and others against fellow representative teams which are not aligned to FIFA and against professional or amateur clubs. Win Draw Loss Fixture
Managers
PlayersCurrent squadBelow is the list of players called by coach Giovanni Marchese for the Corsica Cup (22-25 May 2024). Caps, goals and numbers as per 25 May 2024.[12]
Recent call-upsThe following players have also been called up for the team recently and are still available for selection, this section is updated in June 2023.
Individual recordsAs per 25 May 2024
AnthemThe Sicilia F.A. ha chosen as official anthem the cabaletta Suoni la tromba from I puritani (1835) by Vincenzo Bellini.[13] Media partnersA partnership between the Sicilia F.A. and the football TV WeSport.it was announced through the social media on 2 June 2021. Management and Staff
Competitive recordChampions Runners-up Third place Hosts CONIFA No Limits Mediterranean Futsal Cup
CONIFA European Football Cup
Antudo Cup
Sikelia Cup
Corsica Cup
*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out. Honours
See alsoReferences
External links
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