Serie A clubs have chosen to maintain the current 20-team format for the Italian top division, as confirmed by the league following their shareholders’ meeting in Milan on Monday.
Despite support from only four clubs—Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and AS Roma—for a reduction to 18 teams, the league size will remain unchanged, consistent with its structure since the 2004-05 season.
Top clubs advocated for the reduction in an attempt to minimize the number of games played and enhance the quality of football.
However, in order to pass the reform, they required a majority of 14 votes, which they were unable to attain.
Directors from other teams criticized the attempt by Juve, Milan, Inter, and Roma to reduce the league size.
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Urbino Cairo, Torino president:
“I think the attitude of [the clubs in question] was wrong.”
“I would say what they wanted to do seemed like a super league.”
Milan president Paolo Scaroni made the case for reducing the number of teams to reporters prior to the meeting and vote.
Scaroni said.
“In reality, clubs like us who play international competitions and who have many players called up by the national teams complain about too many matches.”
“The players play the continental tournaments, their national team matches, the Italian Cup and the league.
All this leads to a load of matches that becomes unbearable and which is the cause of many injuries.
“We have already had 18 teams in the league before. In fact I also remember it at 16.”
A proposal for reforms was also approved which will be presented at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Italian football federation (FIGC) in March.
The Italian league is pushing for more autonomy from the FIGC, similar to the Premier League in England.
“Currently, the system does not give Serie A the autonomy and decision-making weight it should have with respect to economic weight,” Serie A president Lorenzo Casini said after a meeting of Serie A clubs last week.
Milan’s Scaroni added to the league president’s message on Monday.
“We in Serie A, who finance the entire game of Italian football, have 12% of the power within the Federation, which creates an endless cycle of frustration,” he said.
