Carlo Bonomi, the leading candidate to become the new President of Lega Serie A explains his plan to relaunch the league and admits supporting Inter.
The position as Lega Serie A President has been vacant since Paolo Dal Pino’s resignation earlier this month. Bonomi is the leading candidate for the role. The 55-year-old is the President of Confindustria, the main association representing manufacturing and service companies in Italy.
“I can’t pull back when the sixth industry in the country asks for help,” Bonomi told Il Corriere dello Sport newspaper.
“But one thing must be clear, there must be broad consensus on my candidacy. Otherwise, I’ll stay home.”
What’s his plan to relaunch Serie A?
“Other leagues in Europe have developed, we have stood still. The Premier League makes money with TV rights abroad, we keep the change on YouTube because we do not handle international relations well”.
Many Serie A clubs have been acquired by foreign owners over the last few years. The last one was Atalanta, who sold the 55% stake in the club to American investors, including the co-owner of the Boston Celtics.
“It’s the proof that the market is attractive,” said Bonomi.
“The big funds are also interested because football is an industry with room for improvement. They buy for low fees and they see the potential. However, once they arrive here, they clash with the reality of our sport and administration. They plan to build stadiums in a few years but must deal with Italian bureaucracy. What happened in Florence, Milan and Rome speak for itself.”
How about the Super League? Did he agree with the breakaway plan unveiled – and collapsed – almost one year ago?
“It is the need to grow,” said Bonomi.
“If football remains a stationary market, it is obvious that the more active are looking for alternative markets. It’s elementary economic law. Nobody, not even the clubs that joined the Superleague, wanted to dismantle football.
“The two dimensions, national and international, must be compatible.”
Bonomi also seems open to adopting the play-offs to decide the Serie A winners and relegations.
“American sports are all based on play-offs,” he said.
“The table leaders play at home but are uncertain until the very end. These reforms can and must be done together. If the ‘cake’ does not grow, there are also no resources for supporting the smaller clubs and youth sectors.”
Bonomi also revealed his favourite team, adding that it clearly won’t affect his job if he gets it.
“I support Inter. Everyone has a favourite team, if not, you don’t love football, but remaining independent is something else.”
Lega #SerieA, il candidato #Bonomi: 'Io indipendente ma amo l'#Inter. Sì ai #playoff e stadi nuovi. Sulla #Superlega…' https://t.co/TfkNVna03H pic.twitter.com/8jZzdezKpt
— calciomercato.com (@cmdotcom) February 22, 2022
“I support Inter. Everyone has a favourite team, if not, you don’t love football, but remaining independent is something else.”
Juventino here. I agree with Bonomi, things need to change if Serie A is to become the world’s leading league (again). Whatever happens, I just hope he – or whoever becomes the new president of Lega Serie A – makes sure to avoid “becoming too American”. Play-offs, the way leagues (e.g. NFL) handle home and away games etc. isn’t something I enjoy very much. There must be other solutions to the problem, adopting the American way isn’t one of them… in my humble opinion, of course 🙂
The last president from Serie a was also inter Fan. Funny how the shinter Fans still accuae juve to cheat when even the president says He Gtires everything that inter will a title again. We saw it läßt year with All these fake Penalities and all the fake allegations.
Lol at Inter and Italy
Like in 2006 when Inter avoided everyting even tho they where the most guilty
Lucky he isn’t a Juve fan or all the conspiracy nuts would be out in force here.
Despite receiving so many favours from refs, the government, tax officials, terrorists, health officials etc over the years plus stealing ex-Juve players & staff, Shinter still don’t have half of Juve’s trophy haul.
A disgrace.
Gianni Infantino (FIFA President) is also an Interista! XD
No playoffs and no ‘super’ league!!! This is not ‘murica !
What happened in Rome, Florence + Milan does speak for itself!
But remain a stationary market, football will! If not allowed to grow, it is?
There’s a new, vast skyscraper complex in Milan every week, so why can’t they build new stadia?
After sayin’ that. I’m not all for an American or EPL model. Football is becoming less about sport + becoming more about drama + about a “show” or the “spectacle!”
And me personally, would much prefer a renovated San Siro, rather than a brand new cucumber church stadium!
Serie A’s more traditional aspect’s have great appeal though. From a spectator perspective, it’s like football from 20 year’s ago. There’s something so authentic in that.
But clubs need to be able to grow + earn, increased revenue somehow?
Surely they can update facilities somewhat, without it becoming a complete, corrupt, capitalist machine where the elite few go it alone, like the EPL for eg!
It was exciting enough in the 80’s + early 90’s, when 7 or 8 different clubs won the league. Parma should’ve done it too. Then Lazio + Roma did in the eatly 2000’s just before the “collapse.”
A more transparent, less Calciopoli version of that very strong competition would be great. We don’t need to turn everything in to play-off’s to make it more exciting for the casual fan!?
New stadiums must be first priority. For revenue and to host any tournaments or world cup. The Serie A should reduce the league to 16 teams. It opens up dates for International play, UCL. and Europa league. Too many useless games that only water down the sport and lead to injuries. But a hard no on playoffs. Let club world cup, and Coppa Italia, and super cup be those games. The youth system must be improved. It seems rare teams keeping players that came up through the schools. It is sad when a teams starting 11 have no Italian players. And it looks bad when the national team is recruiting Brazilian and Argentinian players to play for Italy. Invest in stadiums, and the youth. But don’t sell the soul of Serie A.
How come FI allow bitter juventini to insult Inter but censor Interisti comments ? Censor that too.
Samya stop crying. What penalties, Milan were the team awarded the most penalties last season, and juve needed a fake pk to beat Inter last season. Cuadrado dive. Otherwise you would be playing Europa League on Thursday.
@Cypher
juve have a trophy which Inter never won: Serie B
Yes a club that won nearly 40 Scudetti with Italian refs and a federation recently sponsored by FIAT is complaining about conspiracy theories
Keep crying
Juve better hope that they not win anymore titles as Dustbinter will redirect them just like when they were stuck on 13 titles (1989-2006).
The guy isn’t even elected yet but juventuni are crying already. Clubs need to elect him first, if he is elected it won’t be because of Inter only voting for him, but other clubs too. That is how democracy works. Stop whining. Platini was uefa President but even him, as corrupt as he is, didn’t help juve win anything in Europe.