Many of us have had the pleasure and honor of working with Gino D’Ippolito over the years in his many roles (National Assessor, FIFA Inspector, Instructor) on and off the field. Gino a FIFA Referee for many years as well as a distinguished National NISOA , NASL and MISL referee has officiated over 2,000 pro games and refereed international games in 29 countries. The world’s soccer stars in the late 1970s and early ‘80s, including Johan Cruyff, all played in games refereed by Gino.

He was an official at Pelé's first and last games as a New York Cosmos player. Pelé's first game was on Randalls Island, New York in 1975 and Gino was assigned as an AR. He was the referee for his retirement game in 1977, which was played in Giants Stadium and televised worldwide.

In 1980 he was chosen to referee at the Olympics in Moscow in the USSR, but a boycott by the USA kept him from his dream of officiating in the Olympics.

Gino has refereed in virtually every soccer final the USA had to offer, including the NASL, American Soccer League (ASL), Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) and Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) but one championship game he did not officiate was the NCAA final, although he was assigned to do it twice the NASL did not allow him to accept the game.

Gino is not currently eligible to get on the Hall of Fame ballot. He did not meet the following requirement:
Have refereed at least one Final or Semi-Final game at any of the following:
• NCAA Division, I, II, III (Men or Women).
• NAIA (Men or Women).
• NJCAA (Men or Women).
• NCCAA (Men or Women).

The NISOA Hall of Fame members control the voting process.

We are asking you to contact all NISOA Executive Board Members and NISOA Hall of Fame Members to waive the above requirement so Gino can be nominated to the NISOA Hall of Fame.