By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luigi Lamonica, one of the well-known European referees, has retired from duty in the Euroleague after 26 years of officiating international competitions.
“I have played my last game. It was an amazing run. I want to stay in basketball but in another capacity,” Lamonica told Euohoops’ Vaggelis Ioannou.
And he meant it, confirming there’s nothing that could keep him longer on the court, not even if a special demand came his way. “No, for me, it’s over,” he said with a smile.
The Italian has turned 56 years old and, by the former EuroLeague officiating rules, he would have to retire. Although this rule is no longer in place, Lamonica has made the decision to retire anyway.
Notably, the age limit still existed when he stepped down from his domestic duties in 2016 after he reached the age limit in Italy. In 2019, he was awarded the title of Knight Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
His refereeing career started back in 1980 with the first relevant international experience being the 1997 European Championship while, in 2002, he refereed the Euroleague Final Four. The following year, he was a part of the EuroBasket Final.