Italian clubs who break away to be banned from Serie A: FIGC
ROME: The Italian football federation (FIGC) said on Monday that clubs who join a breakaway league would be banned from all domestic competitions including Serie A.
The controversial breakaway of Europe’s elite soccer teams imploded last week - shortly ater it was announced - when all six English clubs backed away from the proposal, following a backlash by fans and authorities,
Three Serie A clubs -- Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan -- were among 12 major European sides who were involved in the plans to launch a European Super League last week.
“(Clubs) who plan to play in competitions outside of FIFA or UEFA will lose their affiliation to our championship,” FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said ater a meeting on Monday.
Inter Milan announced their withdrawal from the proposed Super League last Wednesday ater the departure of the ‘big six’ English clubs.
But Juventus and AC Milan were less clear, acknowledging the failure of the plans without specifying whether or not they were leaving the project.
“It is obvious that if, on June 21, the closing date for applications for registration, some wanted to participate in competitions of a private nature, they would not take part in our championship,” said Gravina in a statement.
“At the moment, we have no information on who stayed and who let the Super League.”
Gravina, who said last week the clubs would not be punished for their involvement in the plan, again stressed his belief that the failed Super League project should serve as a wake-up call that change is needed.
The federation is working on reforms, which it acknowledged need to be introduced soon. Gravina said these will likely include playoffs for relegation and promotion, as well as a reduction in the number of teams in Serie A.
“Those who interpreted the Super League as an act of weakness from several clubs who are experiencing a moment of difficulty economically, or an insurrection in the soccer system are mistaken,” Gravina said. “It’s a delicate mater that needs to be further explored.”
The new rule will be added to the licenses of the clubs and into the regulatory texts of the FIGC.
The new regulation was adopted unanimously, including by the managing director of Inter, Giuseppe Marota, who sits on the FIGC federal council as a representative of the league, according to La Gazzeta dello sport.