Serie A on Monday accused the Italian government of planning to create a financial regulator for professional sports clubs to replace the existing body within the country's soccer federation.
Italy's top soccer division has joined the Football Federation (FIGC) and the country's top sports authority, the Olympic Committee (CONI), in criticizing the proposal by Sports Minister Andrea Abodi.
After a meeting held on Monday, Serie A clubs “unanimously expressed their opposition to the proposed creation of a government regulator to oversee the finances of professional sports clubs.”
“We insist that sports organizations remain independent from politics,” Serie A added.
The Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) and the top division, also known as Serie A, said they were “completely surprised” by the move, which had previously been “completely unknown”.
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Professional football's finances are currently overseen by the FIGC's supervisory board COVISOC, which was involved in exposing the transfer scandal that cost Juventus a 10-point deduction last season.
“This project is disrespectful to the authorities,” FIGC Director General Gabriele Gravina said on Monday.
Abode insisted on Monday that the new body would not be involved in granting permission for teams to participate in the league championship, saying: “This will be in the hands of the FIGC.”
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However, government intervention in soccer regulation will also attract attention from European and global governing bodies UEFA and FIFA.
Last month, UEFA and the FIA issued a statement expressing “grave concern” over the Spanish government's decision to set up a committee to “oversee” the country's scandal-hit RFEF.
FIFA suspended the membership of Zimbabwe and Kenya in 2022, citing government interference, and later lifted the ban.
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