BusinessDay
Anthony Nlebem
July 12, 2024
Italy is at risk of being banned from FIFA and UEFA tournaments after the government approved the controversial Mulé amendment, despite receiving warnings from the highest levels of international football.
The amendment had been criticised as a breach of the rules regarding government interference in sports administration. It was expected that the amendment might be adjusted or even scrapped entirely. However, according to news agency ANSA, the amendment was passed with some changes.
Details are still emerging, but the revised amendment appears less drastic than originally proposed. Initially, it was intended to allow Lega Serie A to operate independently of the FIGC (Italian Football Federation), similar to how the Premier League broke away from the English Football Association. Crucially, the revised amendment has removed the provision allowing clubs to bypass the sporting justice system and appeal directly to the TAR tribunal.
The updated version of the amendment will be sent to FIFA and UEFA for further evaluation.
“Forza Italia politician Giorgio Mulé, who drafted the ruling, stated, “To guarantee an adequate representation in the federal systems, the professional leagues have the right to equal representation in the directive organizations of the sporting federations that take into account the economic contribution given to the system.”
“A new era begins for Italian football today with the fair recognition of the weight and role that the Lega Serie A has within the Federation,” Mulé added. “A new page finally brings us up to date with modern times.”
Lega Serie A had long complained about its lack of representation on the FIGC board, arguing that it generates the majority of the revenue in Italian football.
As confirmed by La Repubblica and Sky Sport Italia, UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin had sent a letter to Italy’s Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi, warning that “if the text remains the same, we would have to exclude Italian teams from European Cup competitions.” The letter also suggested that Italy’s hosting rights for EURO 2032, which it shares with Turkey, could be revoked.
The situation remains fluid as the updated amendment awaits further evaluation by FIFA and UEFA.
Business Day, established in 2001, is a daily business newspaper based in Lagos. It is the only Nigerian newspaper with a bureau in Accra, Ghana. It has both daily and Sunday titles. It circulates in Nigeria and Ghana
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