In a recent Senate hearing, Bologna’s CEO Claudio Fenucci emphasized the need for strict economic controls and public intervention in stadium development to maintain fair competition in Italian football. During his testimony before the Seventh Commission of the Senate, as part of the project to reform Italian football, Fenucci highlighted several critical issues, as reported by Calcio e Finanza:
“Those who create debts without the ability to repay them distort fair competition. Some clubs have reached agreements with the Tax Authority while others have been relegated instead of them. This cannot continue. It is no longer acceptable for those without resources to compete,” Fenucci declared during his testimony.
Fenucci’s speech focused on the need for public interventions regarding stadiums, the overly rigid constraints of the Melandri Law, and the necessity for stricter economic controls. He noted that despite significant growth in European football, the industry’s financial sustainability has been compromised since the Bosman ruling in 1995, which liberalized player transfers and weakened professional clubs’ negotiating power.
“Our industry has faced unique challenges, leading to a situation where our top clubs generate half the revenue of the Premier League, making us a much less competitive league,” Fenucci explained. “Underperformance economically translates to underperformance sportingly.”
In discussing public interventions, Fenucci stressed the urgency of addressing Italy’s outdated stadium infrastructure.
“We have the oldest and least usable stadiums in Europe. Without a comprehensive project, we risk losing opportunities like hosting the 2032 European Championship,” he warned. He proposed simplifying authorization processes and providing financial support due to rising material costs, suggesting public-private partnerships as a viable solution.
Fenucci also touched on the outdated Melandri Law concerning TV rights, noting the shift from satellite TV to various modern transmission methods.
“We face restrictions that limit our ability to capitalize on international markets,” he said, highlighting the need for legislative updates.
The CEO stressed the importance of more stringent economic controls, aligning with UEFA’s financial regulations, to ensure fair competition.
“Creating debt without a clear path to repayment undermines fair competition. We need harmonized control systems to ensure solvency and fairness among clubs,” Fenucci concluded, urging a reevaluation of domestic licensing parameters to match UEFA’s standards.
