Italy: Carlo Tavecchio, president of the FIGC, wants a Serie A TIM with only 18 clubs instead of 20

"Reducing the number of Serie A TIM teams from 20 to 18 would increase the technical level of the championship, and create new public interest, because when there is a big spectacle people will turn up to fill stadiums. Sunday's attendance (18/09/2016) at the San Siro proves this. Less technical quality means less of a spectacle, and therefore a decline in attendance", said Carlo Tavecchio, president of the FIGC, on 19/09/2016.

Inter Milan - Juventus (2-1) recorded the highest attendance since the start of the 2016-17 season in Serie A TIM, with 76,484 spectators at the San Siro (stadium fill rate: 95%), on 18/09/2016. The average attendance of the Italian championship is at 21,044 spectators per game after four matchdays in 2016-17, with an average stadium fill rate of 54%. The Serie A TIM, for several seasons, has been the Top 5 league with the lowest fill rate (its average attendance was lower than that of Ligue 1 in 2014-15, see table below).

The Serie A has had 20 clubs from 2004-05. The Italian league had 18 or 16 clubs between 1952 and 2004. "Everything can be improved and…