Lega Serie A-government, controversy over TV rights between clubs and about mutuality

Controversy between the Serie A Lega and the Government on the distribution of TV rights. An article of yesterday of football and finance has revealed the draft of a delegation bill with which the government would intervene in the football sector, in particular on TV rights. Thus the article: “We move from the overcoming (with abrogation) of the so -called Melandri Law, which since 2009 has regulated the sale and distribution of revenues in terms of TV rights”. Among the main innovations, the possibility of assigning exclusive rights to a single operator for periods not exceeding three years (example: all matches in Dazn or Sky) and the different distribution of the proceeds are mentioned. In the draft, the TV rights proceeds would be assigned for at least 50% in parts equal to clubs, a part based on sports results, a part based on the formation and use of young Italians. Norma that would disadvantage the large clubs compared to the current distribution.

The polemical press release of the League

–

The document was also viewed by the A clubs of A, who in the Lega Council scheduled this morning also hypothesized to ask for the resignation of Abadi, minister for sport and young people. The presidents were annoyed for not having been consulted during the draft of the draft and because, in the document, it would be assumed to allocate a share of TV rights to another professional sport. The League then published a press release, shared by Milan, Inter and Juventus on its sites. “President Ezio Simonelli, on behalf of the Serie A League, firmly manifests his amazement for having learned, only through the press bodies, of a reform of the sale system of audiovisual rights that directly concerns its associates. At the same time, the opposition of the Serie A is expressed to a bill prepared without any preventive interlocution with the League itself. The form of increasing the external mutuality that goes to subtract further fundamental resources to the development and sustainability of the Serie A, which already contributes to the support of the lower categories to the extent of 10% of the audiovisual rights. With losses estimated at over 300 million euros per year.

Abadi’s explanation

–

Minister Abodi, speaking with the chroniclers in the transatlantic in the Chamber, replied as follows: “The question of rights? There is a sensational misunderstanding, there is a note from the League that did not understand what came out yesterday. What came out yesterday, in a irrelevant way, is a first technical draft, which was shared with the cointerescent ministries, for their contribution, in the context of a long journey, which lasts a year. There is no blitz, a judgment was expressed on something that came out in an irrelevant and improper way, knowing or pretending not to know that it is a first technical draft of our own, with themes addressed in an innovative way, I think of the possible hypothesis of a sale even of a single operator, which is not expected today “.

The last words of the League

–

The clubs, at that point, have counter-officers: “The Serie A League takes note of the declarations issued by Minister Abadi regarding the delegated law and thanks him for the clarification. The Serie A Lega Confida, indeed he is sure at this point, to be a single interlocutor to discuss issues that go directly to the budgets of the A companies”.