Lega Serie A President Lorenzo Casini warned clubs are ‘unsatisfied’ with the proposed FIGC reforms, refusing to cut the league to 18 teams even after admitting crossover with UEFA fixtures becomes ‘inevitable.’
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina presented the proposals to reform Italian football, which include the idea of reducing the number of teams in Serie A from 20 to 18.
That particular plan has the support of the big three – Juventus, Inter and Milan – but was voted down by the other sides and the Lega.
Today the Lega Serie A had a meeting followed by Casini’s press conference, where he admitted that the expansion of the Champions League, Club World Cup and the Final Four format of the Supercoppa Italiana all add to the packed fixture list.
“The planned international calendar was presented and it will be approved in March, so an internal discussion within Serie A has started relative to the number of games played, seeing also decisions that regard Italian competitions.
“It is packed, we recognised that over the last 20 years while the number of national matches has not increased – save for the Final Four Supercoppa – the number of international games has grown alarmingly.”
Casini insists the clubs did not discuss reducing Serie A to 18 teams, but did note that “overlapping Serie A games with European ones will become inevitable.
“Before discussing alternative formats, it is opportune that we clarify certain things.”
The biggest problem that the Lega Serie A currently has with the FIGC is over power, as it has very few votes on the overall Federation board, fewer than the amateur leagues.
“The assembly examined the FIGC document and was unsatisfied with the priorities highlighted,” continued Casini.
“The intervention on governance in the federal system and finding a better balance of representation is postponed. We will make clear to the FIGC that we do not agree with the order of the plan. Serie A does not feel adequately represented for what it brings to the table.”
Casini has threatened to set up a Premier League style breakaway model in Italy, but insisted today they “want a Serie A model, we cannot replicate models that exist elsewhere. We look at what works and then can modify it.”
#SerieA, nodo calendari: si va verso la sovrapposizione delle partite con le coppe europee. Al via una discussione interna sul numero delle gare https://t.co/mDcjWpkVqf
— Calcio e Finanza (@CalcioFinanza) February 26, 2024