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FIFA and UEFA will block Italy’s plan to oversee club finances
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Football governing bodies FIFA It is UEFA have expressed opposition to an Italian government plan to create a committee to oversee professional clubs’ budgets, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a parliamentary hearing, Gabriele Gravina told lawmakers that the FIGC received an email on Monday from global body FIFA and European UEFA.
He said the mail urged the FIGC “to pressure the government to back down on this measure that violates the autonomy of the sport.”
The government decree – still subject to amendment by parliament – echoes plans to appoint an independent regulator for English football.
“We confirm that a letter signed by UEFA and FIFA has been sent to the FIGC in relation to the decree,” UEFA said in a statement emailed to Reuters.
“Both organizations will continue to closely monitor developments and assess the need for further action if necessary,” he added.
Rome decided to create the authority to oversee the budgets of professional sports clubs, following a series of financial and regulatory problems suffered by Italy’s top football teams in recent years.
The decision was criticized by some of the country’s main sports authorities.
Juventus, controlled by the Agnelli family, suffered a 10-point deduction from Serie A in the 2022/2023 season and a ban from European competition in 2023-24 following accounting problems.