The reform of Italy's youth league, the Campionato Primavera, is devolving into a farce as clubs can't decide how to vote on it.
The Italian football institutions had advanced a proposal to reform the tournament in which the youth teams of Italy's football clubs competed against each other. The current system is viewed as wasteful, as too many of the games pitch big teams versus minnows and are not competitive enough for the youngsters to really develop.
The reform of Italy's youth league, the Campionato Primavera, is devolving into a farce as clubs can't decide how to vote on it.
The Italian football institutions had advanced a proposal to reform the tournament in which the youth teams of Italy's football clubs competed against each other. The current system is viewed as wasteful, as too many of the games pitch big teams versus minnows and are not competitive enough for the youngsters to really develop.
A new system had been devised to set up the equivalent of a Serie A and Serie B for the youth teams, with 16 teams in the former and 26 in the latter, including promotions and demotions at the end of the season.
The reform was verbally approved by all Serie A clubs except for Bologna and Sassuolo. But when the time came to vote at the Lega Serie A assembly, the reform was turned down as only 14 out of 22 clubs voted in favour, failing to meet the necessary quorum of 16 clubs. The reasons for the change of heart are private, though they may have to do with some clubs not being confident enough that their youth teams would make it in the upper league.
As though the situation didn't seem petty enough, the Gazzetta dello Sport reports that some of the clubs are regretting their decision and asking the Lega to reopen talks on the subject.
If the reform is reproposed and at least two clubs have changed their minds, it could still pass before the end of July, allowing for a more balanced development of Italy's younger players.