Today, the president of the AC Milan club, Paolo Scaroni, spoke at the sidelines of the 'Prospettive di riforma del calcio italiano' (Prospects for Reform of Italian Football) meeting held in the Senate Commission, addressing the Senators present.
The Rossoneri executive shared his views on potential interventions and reforms within the Italian football movement. Below are his statements reported by Calcio & Finanza.
On what Senators could do for Italian football:
"We need to solve the betting problem. It makes no sense that the world bets on football, and we don't get any benefit from it. It was the Italian parliament in the past that prevented us from participating in these revenues, and this parliament can change this senseless policy."
On piracy, television rights, and the growth decree, Scaroni said:
"Something has been done about piracy, and for that, I thank you. But more can be done. We need to ban it from our television rights. The tax benefits for returning expatriates under the Growth Decree have been eliminated, which has caused us a colossal damage. An incomprehensible rule, considering that the only benefit Italian football had was the ability to attract world-class talent, and it has been taken away. I hope it will be restored."
On stadiums:
"Legislative measures on stadiums can help, although I am somewhat skeptical since we live in a country where small but vocal minorities can block everything. There remain constraints that prevent us from doing things. The fact that in the FIGC, Serie A, which pays the bill for everyone, counts very little, is firstly wrong and secondly creates friction between us and the federation."
Scaroni concluded:
"To change all this, parliamentary initiatives are needed; otherwise, nothing will change. Serie A is underrepresented, while all those who benefit from our money are more represented. Furthermore, it is impossible for the League to represent the six to eight largest clubs abroad, and not just them. Thinking that we can self-reform within the League is completely unrealistic with the current governance we have."
