Veteran Sports Journalist Roberto Bernabai Dies at 70

Roberto Bernabai, a prominent Italian sports journalist and a historic face of television broadcasting for Telemontecarlo and La7, died at the age of 70 following a brief illness. The network announced his passing on October 21, 2026, prompting widespread condolences from newsrooms, athletic clubs, and colleagues across the country.

Born in Rome on February 6, 1956, Bernabai embarked on his professional journey in 1975 by contributing to various periodicals. After building early experience in print, he expanded into radio and regional television broadcasting in the Lazio region between 1985 and 1990, working as a radio announcer and television host.

His career achieved a major milestone in 1990 when he joined the sports editorial team at Telemontecarlo (TMC). Over the following decades, Bernabai established himself as a versatile broadcaster, balancing field reporting and international assignments with newsroom leadership and studio hosting duties, eventually serving as managing editor of the sports desk.

As an on-site reporter and match commentator, Bernabai covered major global sporting events. He reported from three editions of the FIFA World Cup—Italy 1990, United States 1994, and France 1998—as well as three UEFA European Championships in 1992, 1996, and 2000. He also provided coverage of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

In addition to international tournaments, Bernabai became well-known to viewers for broadcasting Spanish La Liga matches for six seasons on TMC and TMC2. Working alongside colleagues such as Francesco Izzi and technical commentator Giancarlo De Sisti, he brought European club soccer directly to Italian television audiences.

Starting in 1992, Bernabai anchored sports bulletins and programs for TMC, a role that continued seamlessly when the network transformed into La7 in 2001. Colleagues at La7 noted that he even anchored the very first edition of the network's news broadcast. Later in his career, from the 2006-2007 season onward, he hosted 'Area Gol' for two years, providing pre-match and post-match coverage for Serie A fixtures on digital terrestrial television, alongside coverage of the UEFA Cup.

Following the announcement of his death, the La7 newsroom released a statement remembering him as "a great professional, exemplary" and highlighting his gentle demeanor, integrity, and deep commitment to serious journalism. Professional soccer clubs, including AS Roma, also shared public statements expressing sorrow and extending condolences to his family and loved ones.