On the evening of 8 June, the head of Rai's Sports Rights Directorate, Pier Francesco Forleo, passed away suddenly in Rome. The EBU offers its condolences to Rai colleagues and to Forleo’s family and friends.

Rai’s President Marinella Soldi and CEO Roberto Sergio noted: "The loss of Pier Francesco Forleo leaves us dismayed. An impeccable professional, with a solid and varied professional experience, he had been a point of reference in the crucial sports rights sector of our company for years. We will miss not only his great ability to analyse and direct complex financial and management aspects, but also his human touch. We offer our thoughts and condolences to his family.”

EBU’s Director of Sport Glen Killane said: “Pier was a wonderful friend, colleague and advocate for sport. His contribution to the successes of public service media in the area of sports broadcasting rights cannot be overstated. He worked with us tirelessly to ensure that live sports reached the broadest possible audience via free-to-air channels. He will be sorely missed and we share our condolences with our Rai colleagues and his friends and family.”

Forleo joined RAI in 1997 where he had a rich career spanning many departments, including administration, finance, radio, public procurement and many others. In March 2015, he started his very successful tenure as the Director of the Sports Rights Directorate. He was also from 2015 a member of the EBU’s Sports Rights Committee and the Sports Right Assembly.