MILAN — Soccer governing bodies Federation Internationale of Football Association (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) have expressed opposition to an Italian government plan to set up a committee to oversee the budgets of professional clubs, the head of Italy’s football association (FIGC) said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a parliamentary hearing, Gabriele Gravina told lawmakers the FIGC had received an email on Monday from world body FIFA and Europe’s UEFA. The government decree — still subject to change by parliament — has echoes of plans to appoint an independent regulator for English soccer.
Rome moved to set up the authority to oversee the budgets of professional sports clubs following a string of financial and regulatory problems suffered by major Italian soccer teams in recent years.
Juventus, controlled by the Agnelli family, suffered a 10-point deduction in Serie A in the 2022/2023 season and a ban from European competition in 2023-24 after accounting issues. — Reuters
