By Mark Baber
Ocotber 7 – Speaking to the Italian parliament, FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio argued it would be better for clubs to fix up their existing stadiums rather than build new ones, whilst declaring TV revenue was not a reliable source of income and football’s main problem was employees getting rich at the expense of entrepreneurs.
Tavecchio, who has recently completed a six month ban UEFA for racism, was speaking as Parliament debated a draft bill on the promotion of physical education and sports culture, the protection of young athletes training and recognition of professions relating to physical education and sporting activity.
Tavecchio argued: “Would it not be easier to fix up 20 stadiums of national interest rather than build a cloud of new cement?”
“Why bother going to create new spaces if we have them right here? How can a city like Napoli think of building a new stadium in a different zone?
“We must find a way to fix what is already there.”
Currently only Juventus, Sassuolo and Udinese in Serie A own their own stadiums, with other clubs renting from local councils, in an arrangement which has led to some disputes over who should pay for renovations.
Tavecchio also commented on the reliance of Italian clubs on pay-per-view television rights saying: “They are a boon, but I don’t know for how long we can bank on them. We must find alternative revenue streams to maintain a system that is currently too exposed to the whims of TV rights.”
On the issue of private investment and risk for club owners, Tavecchio argued that: “The problem of the sport in Italy is that the entrepreneur fails while the employee is enriched. “
“If parliament would change this system,” Tavecchio told the assembled deputies, the FIGC would be “the first to follow you.”
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