The FIGC have pushed back the deadline on the ban of multi-club ownership, allowing Aurelio De Laurentiis to retain both Napoli and Bari.
The rule change stopped owners from possessing two professional clubs in Italy, even if they were competing in different divisions. The previous iteration allowed for multi-club ownership as long as the two teams didn’t compete in the same tier, something which ultimately burned Lazio president Claudio Lotito after Salernitana secured promotion to Serie A recently, forcing him to sell.
De Laurentiis had appealed against the amendment of Article 16-bis of the NOIF, and today the FIGC agreed to delay the changes to the start of the 2028-29 season.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Federal Council meeting, Napoli’s Aurelio De Laurentiis and Bari’s Luigi De Laurentiis seemed overjoyed with the delay.
“The amendment approved by the Federal Council of the FIGC on the subject of multi-club ownership is an act of common sense and a choice that gives respite to those who in recent years have believed in the revival of football by investing substantial economic resources.
“We’re satisfied and happy with this change and we would like to thank the entire Federal Council, and in particular the President of the FA Gabriele Gravina, for the commitment and willingness shown on this occasion.
“We have already informed the FA that we will renounce the appeal presented in recent days to the Collegio di Garanzia dello Sport and any other action, even of a compensatory nature, because we believe that the time has come to open a new page for Italian football based on practicality and the spirit of collaboration.”
This change allows the De Laurentiis family to retain both Napoli and Bari until the start of the 2028-29 season, unless the latter secure promotion to the top flight, which would force a sale of one of the two clubs.