FIFA and UEFA call on FIGC to oppose Italian government control of club budgets

June 19 – FIFA and UEFA have expressed their opposition to the Italian government’s plan to set up a committee to oversee the budgets of professional clubs.

At a hearing in Parliament, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, told MPs that the FIGC had received an email from both associations on Monday.

He said the letter called on the Italian Football Federation to “put pressure on the government to withdraw this measure that violates the autonomy of sport.”

“We confirm that a letter signed by UEFA and FIFA has been sent to the FIGC regarding the decree,” UEFA confirmed in an emailed statement to Reuters.

“Both organizations will continue to closely monitor developments and, if necessary, assess the need for further action,” it said.

The government’s move to control the budgets of professional sports clubs followed a series of financial and regulatory problems that major clubs have struggled with in recent years.

The most prominent departure was by Juventus, controlled by the Agnelli family. The club suffered a ten-point deduction in Serie A in the 2022/2023 season and will be excluded from participating in European competitions in 2023/24 due to accounting issues.

FIFA prohibits government interference in the affairs of national football associations, although in some cases there are subtle differences and disagreements.

For example, the British government, without objection from FIFA, set up an independent regulator to oversee English professional football to ensure its financial sustainability.

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