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Sicily national football team

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Sicily
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Naziunali Siciliana
AssociationSicilia Football Association
Head coachGiovanni Marchese
CaptainDavis Curiale
Top scorerDavis Curiale (2)
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
First international
 Sicily 4–1 Sardinia 
(Mazara del Vallo, Italy; 10 June 2022)
Biggest win
 Sicily 4–1 Sardinia [1]
(Mazara del Vallo, Italy; 10 June 2022)

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.

History

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In 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]

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Flag of the Sicilian Vespers

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.

Kits

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The Sicilia F.A. announced three football jerseys, all dedicated to the history of Sicily.[7]

  • 1st: "Vèspiru": red and yellow with the emblem of the Sicilian Triskelion, in honour of the Sicilian Vespers (1282);
  • 2nd: "Fidiricu": white with 4 red and yellow stripes and a Swabian eagle, in honour of the royal flag established by King Frederick III of Sicily in 1296;
  • 3rd: "Ruggeru": blue with a red and white checkered stripe, in honour of the foundation of the Kingdom of Sicily by Roger II in 1130.

EYE Sport is the official kit supplier of the Sicily national football team.[11]

Fixtures and results

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This 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

10 June 2022 Antudo Cup Sicily  4 – 1  Sardinia Mazara del Vallo, Italy
18:45 Ortisi 31'
Savanarola 54'
Bulevardi 57'
Curiale 83'		 Report 89' Bianco Stadium: Stadio Nino Vaccara
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Alessandro Angelo
10 June 2023 Sikelia Cup Sicily  1 - 0  Corsica Caltanissetta, Italy
18:00 Curiale 69' Report Stadium: Stadio Marco Tomaselli
Referee: Antonio Gabriel Haba
23 May 2024 Corsica Cup Sicily  1 - 1
(3 - 4 p)		  Saint Martin Corte, France
19:00 Saraniti 92' Report 13' Segarel Stadium: Stade Santos Manfredi
25 May 2024 Corsica Cup 3rd place final Sicily  1 — 0  Sardinia Afa, France
14:30 Alma 61' Report Stadium: Afa Stadium

Managers

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Players

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Current squad

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Below 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]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Gaetano Dolenti (1991-05-16) 16 May 1991 (age 33) 3 0 Sicily Sancataldese
12 1GK Giuseppe Polizzi (1991-12-20) 20 December 1991 (age 32) 1 0 Sicily San Giorgio Piana
2 2DF Damiano Lia (1997-11-25) 25 November 1997 (age 26) 3 0 Sicily Messina
3 2DF Andrea Ferrigno (1989-10-12) 12 October 1989 (age 35) 1 0 Sicily Igea Virtus
4 2DF Salvatore Tosto (1997-02-11) 11 February 1997 (age 27) 2 0 Sicily Enna
5 2DF Giuseppe Zappalà (1990-05-28) 28 May 1990 (age 34) 1 0 Sicily Enna
6 2DF Simone Brugaletta (1994-01-19) 19 January 1994 (age 30) 4 0 Italy Santa Maria Cilento
17 2DF Alessio Asero (2000-11-10) 10 November 2000 (age 24) 2 0 Sicily Paternò
18 2DF Salvatore Mollica (2000-09-29) 29 September 2000 (age 24) 3 0 Sicily Paternò
22 2DF Giuseppe Filì (2002-11-04) 4 November 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Italy Vastogirardi
23 2DF Rosario Licata (1989-01-16) 16 January 1989 (age 35) 3 0 Sicily Mazara 46
8 3MF Giorgio Tumbarello (1996-04-20) 20 April 1996 (age 28) 2 0 Italy Lucchese
13 3MF Riccardo Correnti (2001-02-24) 24 February 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Sicily Sancataldese
15 3MF Nino Garofalo (2001-12-06) 6 December 2001 (age 22) 1 0 Sicily Milazzo
19 3MF Francesco Giunta (1999-03-19) 19 March 1999 (age 25) 2 0 Sicily Messina
20 3MF Salvatore Cocimano (1990-09-27) 27 September 1990 (age 34) 2 0 Sicily Enna
24 3MF Enrico Giannone (2004-06-23) 23 June 2004 (age 20) 0 0 Sicily Licata
7 4FW Antonino Musso (1999-09-14) 14 September 1999 (age 25) 2 0 Italy Bra
9 4FW Andrea Saraniti (1988-07-23) 23 July 1988 (age 36) 2 1 Italy Altamura
11 4FW Davis Curiale (1987-12-30) 30 December 1987 (age 36) 4 2 Italy Terracina
14 4FW Tommaso Bonanno (1995-08-03) 3 August 1995 (age 29) 2 0 Italy Martina
16 4FW Vincenzo Vitale (2000-11-26) 26 November 2000 (age 23) 1 0 Italy Varesina
21 4FW Giuliano Alma (1993-07-27) 27 July 1993 (age 31) 2 1 Sicily Siracusa

Recent call-ups

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The following players have also been called up for the team recently and are still available for selection, this section is updated in June 2023.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Federico Valenti (1993-06-06) 6 June 1993 (age 31) 1 0 Sicily Sancataldese vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022
DF Valerio Genesio (1987-04-28) 28 April 1987 (age 37) 1 0 Sicily Mazarese vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022
DF Salvatore Mollica (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 24) 1 0 Sicily Acireale vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022
MF Danilo Bulevardi (1995-01-31) 31 January 1995 (age 29) 1 1 Italy Gubbio vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022
MF Salvatore Cocimano (1990-07-27) 27 July 1990 (age 34) 1 0 Sicily Giarre vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022
MF Francesco Corso (1997-11-27) 27 November 1997 (age 26) 1 0 Sicily Mazarese vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022
MF Mattia Tumminelli (1997-08-12) 12 August 1997 (age 27) 1 0 Sicily Acireale vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022
FW Pasqualino Ortisi (2002-04-24) 24 April 2002 (age 22) 1 1 Italy Fidelis Andria vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022
FW Giuseppe Savonarola (1986-03-10) 10 March 1986 (age 38) 1 1 Sicily Acireale vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022
FW Alessio Rizzo (1998-10-03) 3 October 1998 (age 26) 1 0 Sicily Paternò vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022
FW Mattia Retucci (2000-12-06) 6 December 2000 (age 23) 1 0 Sicily Nissa vs.  Sardinia, 10 June 2022

Individual records

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As per 25 May 2024

Anthem

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The Sicilia F.A. ha chosen as official anthem the cabaletta Suoni la tromba from I puritani (1835) by Vincenzo Bellini.[13]

Media partners

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A 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

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Position Staff
President Salvatore Mangano
Honorary President Pietro Cannistrà
Vice-president Angelo Priolo
General Manager Alberto L'Episcopo
General Secretary Fabio Petrucci
Treasurer Giuseppe D'Andrea
General Consultant Mario Bonsignore
Head of the Sporting Area Antonio Emma
Team Manager Ivano Vetere
Head of Communication Antonio Caroè
Publicist Tiziana Albanese
Head of International Relations Mario Trabucco della Torretta
Ambassadors Giovanni Privitera (France)
Mario Trabucco della Torretta (Great Britain)

Competitive record

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  Champions    Runners-up    Third place     Hosts

CONIFA No Limits Mediterranean Futsal Cup

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Year Position Pld W D* L GF GA
CONIFA No Limits Mediterranean Futsal Cup
Italy 2021 4th 3 1 1 1 6 6
Total 0 Titles 3 1 1 1 6 6

CONIFA European Football Cup

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Year Position Pld W D* L GF GA
ConIFA European Football Cup
County of Nice 2022 Cancelled
Northern Cyprus 2023 Cancelled
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0

Antudo Cup

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Year Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Antudo Cup
Sicily 2022 1st 1 1 0 0 4 1
Total 1 Titles 1 1 0 0 4 1

Sikelia Cup

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Year Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Sikelia Cup
Sicily 2023 1st 1 1 0 0 1 0
Total 1 Titles 1 1 0 0 1 0

Corsica Cup

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Year Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Corsica Cup
Corsica 2024 3rd 1 1 0 0 1 0
Total 0 Titles 2 1 0 0 2 1

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

Honours

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Competition 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Total
Antudo Cup 1 0 0 1
Sikelia Cup 1 0 0 1
Corsica Cup 0 0 1 1
Total 2 0 1 3

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Local selection of foreign amateur players in Sicily
  2. ^ "Nazionale di calcio siciliana" (in Italian). L'Altra Sicilia. 12 August 2003. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Una nazionale di calcio siciliana. Che ne pensate?" (in Italian). BlogSicilia. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Una nazionale di calcio della Sicilia? C'è la proposta degli indipendentisti" (in Italian). goal.com. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Nazionale siciliana di calcio, l'idea parte da Messina. Ecco i primi nomi" (in Italian). Gazzetta del Sud. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Nasce la Nazionale di calcio della Sicilia: i giocatori che potrebbero farne parte" (in Italian). calciopolis.it. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Nazionale di calcio della Sicilia, l'idea tenta il decollo: contest per il logo ufficiale" (in Italian). Palermo Today. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  8. ^ "CONIFA welcomes the Sicilia Football Association". CONIFA official website. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  9. ^ "CONIFA makes history with No Limits Mediterranean Futsal Cup". CONIFA official website. 27 August 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  10. ^ "LA NAZIONALE SICILIANA DICE ADDIO A CONIFA: SCIOLTA L'ADESIONE ALL'ORGANIZZAZIONE". 18 October 2023.
  11. ^ "EYE Sport partner tecnico della Nazionale Siciliana" (in Italian). EYE Sport official website. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Elenco dei convocati [...] della Nazionale Siciliana". 18 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Nazionale Siciliana: "Suoni la tromba" di Bellini é l'inno ufficiale" (in Italian). WeSport official website. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
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