Floridi: “The government should intervene on football reform as in the UK”

“This is a bit like what Undersecretary Vezzali said this summer, when he underlined the need to intervene in an important way with a reform to protect football.” This was stated by Emanuele Floridi, expert in consensus management, public affair and crisis management and strategic and risk advisor, to Calcio e Finanza, speaking of the football reform that, according to Floridi, must necessarily pass through the government, exactly as happened in the case English. In fact, in recent weeks the British government has published the “Fan-Led Review of Football Governance”, a reform project wanted by Downing Street to safeguard the future of gaming in the country and drawn up following the opinions and voices of the fans. After all, football asks for help, but since it is public funds, it cannot be used without institutional management and control. “It is a bit like the model of when the Italian government asks Europe for money – emphasizes Floridi – the funds are granted, but it must then be parameterized with some reforms that are requested. The time has come for the government to carry out reforms to protect the system: it has to be done ”. Floridi then brings some examples of potential critical issues, including that of foreign properties. At the moment there are only seven in Serie A (Bologna, Fiorentina, Genoa, Inter, Milan, Rome and Spezia), but without adequate regulation there remain several unknowns about their work and their will to stay long-term. Another concerns that of the prosecutors, who release resources for hundreds of millions of euros from the system: this area must be ordered and parameterized to what the Fifa project is. Floridi then expresses his comment on the relationship between the club and the players. “Can footballers still be employees of clubs or should they be treated as companies within companies, becoming service providers?” he wonders. The central theme is linked to a substantial change compared to a few years ago, which is taking place in an inexorable way: by now the image performance is surpassing the sports one. “This change must be anticipated and planned, in order to limit any distorting effects”, suggests the expert. In conclusion, if the reform of the British government has somehow resulted from the “trauma” of the Super League, Italian football could benefit starting from the chaos generated by the capital gains affair to complete one’s own. “What is happening can be transformed into opportunities, but with the support of the government: the tax revenue from football helps a large part of the third sector, it subsidizes grassroots sport throughout the nation. The fact that the government also enters the field is to protect this aspect: if football has a problem, the whole world of sport has it ”, concludes Floridi.