Following a shareholders’ meeting in Milan, Serie A clubs have voted against reducing the number of clubs in the Italian top division from 20 to 18. Despite the efforts of top clubs such as Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and AS Roma to push for the reduction, only four clubs voted in favor of the proposal. This decision means that the number of clubs in Serie A will remain at 20, as it has been since the 2004-05 season.
The top clubs in Serie A have argued that reducing the number of clubs would result in a higher quality of football due to a decrease in the number of games played. However, their proposal failed to gain the majority of 14 votes required to pass the reform. Directors from other teams criticized the attempt, with Torino president, Urbino Cairo, stating that the clubs in question had the wrong attitude and that their proposal seemed like a super league.
Milan president Paolo Scaroni, one of the advocates for reducing the number of teams, expressed concerns over player workloads and injuries. He highlighted the challenges faced by clubs participating in international competitions and having players called up for national team duty. Scaroni emphasized that the current schedule, including continental tournaments, national team matches, the Italian Cup, and league fixtures, puts an unbearable load on players and contributes to numerous injuries. He pointed out that Serie A had previously operated with 18 teams and even 16 teams in the past.
In addition to the decision on the number of clubs, Serie A approved a proposal for reforms that will be presented at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Italian football federation (FIGC) in March. The league is pushing for more autonomy, similar to the Premier League in England, to have a greater say in decision-making and financial matters. Serie A president Lorenzo Casini emphasized the need for the league to have more autonomy and decision-making weight corresponding to its economic standing. Milan’s Scaroni echoed this sentiment, highlighting the frustration caused by Serie A’s minimal power (12%) within the Federation.
With the number of clubs remaining at 20, Serie A now faces the challenge of finding a balance between the desire to increase the quality of football and player welfare. The league will continue to navigate discussions and negotiations to assert greater autonomy within the FIGC. The decision not to reduce the number of clubs reflects the diverse interests and perspectives of the different teams in Serie A. As the future unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Serie A manages to address these concerns while maintaining the competitiveness that has made it one of the most exciting leagues in the world.
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