In a recent shareholders’ meeting held in Milan, Serie A clubs voted to keep the number of clubs in the Italian top division at 20. This decision came after discussions revolving around a potential reduction to 18 clubs, which was supported by only four teams: Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and AS Roma. Despite the push from these top clubs to decrease the number of teams, the majority voted in favor of maintaining the current 20-team format. This has been the standard since the 2004-2005 season.
The initial intention behind the proposed reduction was to enhance the quality of football and reduce the number of games played. The top clubs believed that by having fewer teams in the league, the overall standard of play would improve. However, this required a majority vote of 14 in order to pass the reform, which was not obtained.
The attempt by Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and AS Roma to reduce the league size faced criticism from directors of other teams. Torino president Urbino Cairo expressed his views on the matter, stating that he believed the approach of these clubs was misguided. He went on to say, “I would say what they wanted to do seemed like a super league.” This sentiment was echoed by several others in the league.
Prior to the vote, AC Milan president Paolo Scaroni highlighted the concerns raised by clubs like his, which participate in international competitions and have numerous players called up for national team duty. Scaroni emphasized the issue of player fatigue and the subsequent rise in injuries. He stated, “All this leads to a load of matches that becomes unbearable and which is the cause of many injuries.” Scaroni also reminded everyone that Serie A had previously operated with 18 teams in the past, and some teams even recall a time when the league consisted of only 16 teams.
In addition to the vote on the number of clubs, Serie A also approved proposals for reforms. These reforms will be presented at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Italian football federation (FIGC) in March. One of the key issues highlighted is the league’s desire for more autonomy, similar to the Premier League in England. Serie A president Lorenzo Casini emphasized the need for greater decision-making power, stating, “Currently, the system does not give Serie A the autonomy and decision-making weight it should have with respect to economic weight.” Milan’s Scaroni echoed this sentiment, expressing frustration about having only 12% of the power within the Federation despite financing the entire game of Italian football.
Serie A clubs have decided to maintain the current 20-team format in the Italian top division. The quest for higher quality football and the reduction in the number of matches played faced opposition from the majority of clubs. Further reforms will be discussed and presented in the future, as Serie A aims for more autonomy within the Italian football landscape.
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