Italy: "Excessive centralisation of powers for the FIGC president" (L. Casini, Lega Serie A)

"The football system presents is behind in terms of organisational models and institutional fragilities. Such as the excessive centralisation of powers in the hands of a single figure, the president of the Federation (Gabriele Gravina, FIGC president)," said Lorenzo Casini, president of Lega Serie A, during his hearing on the prospects for reforming Italian football before the Italian Senate's Committee on Culture, Education and Sport, in Rome (ITA) on 23/04/2024.

"We need greater autonomy for Serie A, along the lines of the English model, where the Federation's veto is an exceptional safeguard clause should the League adopt disproportionate solutions. There have been almost authoritarian attitudes on the part of the Federation, I cite the attempt to suppress the leagues' right of agreement on the organisation of the championships," said Casini.

"The subject is a particularly serious one, and I was surprised by this speech. I was struck by the reference to 'authoritarian tendencies'. When you're involved in the voluntary sector, you need to be more nuanced. It's curious that until a…