Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi admits he is losing patience with the red tape preventing the construction of new football stadiums in Italy. ‘We are a nation of contradictions.’
Almost all the arenas used by Serie A and B clubs are owned by the local council and only rented to the clubs on match day.
Several have tried to build their own stadiums, only to be held up by red tape, the refusal of local authorities and block on using certain areas.
Roma, Fiorentina, Milan and Inter have been pushing for years to have their projects given the all-clear and show no sign of progress.
“I was much more patient when I was on the other side of the table, but as a Minister for Sport, I am becoming intransigent,” commented Abodi at a summit on the future of stadiums in Italy.
Abodi was the President of the Lega Serie B from 2010 to 2017, but was appointed Minister for Sport and Youth in October 2022.
“We are a nation full of contradictions, but I hope the time for excuses and alibis is over. There is nothing we need to invent here, we just need to all take on the responsibility, starting with me.
“President Meloni gave me the task that can truly let me work for the football system. It’s not about just a Minister, but a logic of multi-disciplinary co-operation with clubs and local authorities.
“Stadiums are social infrastructures, they can revitalise urban areas, create jobs and reflect all the characteristics of community financing. Instead we are still here asking ourselves questions about competition and priority.”
Italy hope that if they are given the opportunity to host the EURO 2032 tournament, that will prove a catalyst to reconstruct existing stadiums and speed up the process of approving new arenas.
The last time many of the stadiums in Italy were built or revamped was when hosting the 1990 World Cup.
“The inevitability of needing EURO 2032 to change the stadiums is mortifying,” added Abodi. “These Euros are made for us, they will be in nine years and the decision is within five months, so these could be typically Italian timings for the agenda.”