The General States of football: Cairo, Gravina, Casini and TV at the Sport Festival

“It is a moment in which money is lost, there is a worrying debt, while ten years ago we were in great shape. But the systems and even the companies are healed, there is nothing irreparable. Italian football can go back to high. level, but we have to change register “. This was said by Urbano Cairo, president of Rcs MediaGroup and Turin, during the debate “The general states of Italian football”, organized as part of the Trento Sports Festival. “Increasing revenues is the goal we have, even if it is not easy. We have to intervene on costs, on salaries, which represent 80% of them – explained Cairo -. And in the past we have seen that, while increasing revenues , companies have not fared better, because salaries have risen even faster. We have to pay attention to costs, get them under control and move forward by working on nurseries and young people. “

Taurus, TV and errands

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Cairo then refers to the case of Turin: “We too are suffering, we no longer win the Scudetto in the budget. We must be careful. The costs have increased with the pandemic and therefore the situation for us too must be monitored very carefully”. Then he reaffirms the concept: “A few years ago Italian football was ahead in television rights compared to the other leagues. From 2012 to 2022, revenues grew more slowly. This made us take steps backwards”. On the fight against piracy: “It is a fundamental issue, between Sky and Dazn there are 5 and a half million subscribers, the so-called” pezzotto “has about 2 million spectators, this means 30% more possible revenues. But the State must help “. The salary cap is also unavoidable: “It is something that must be done – closes Cairo -. And the commissions to agents are an aspect that has become a priority, when I started my career as president there was only a percentage that the agents on the recruitment, now the percentage is taken for granted, but in addition you have to pay commissions. First, maybe, I would like to see the performance of the player … “.

Gravina

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On the same wavelength Gabriele Gravina: “The indebtedness of the system worries us. Italian football is constantly losing appeal, despite the efforts of the various clubs – reflects the FIGC president -. Our world has a dimension within the economy change is an objective element, we are at a point of no return. Every 10-15 years the world of football changes, as does technology and speed. The way of experiencing a sporting event changes. Football cannot remain motionless “. On nurseries: “The Football Federation is organizing itself for a technical department. We need an intervention so that young people can find space in competitions. Infrastructures are indispensable”. Another point dear to Gravina: “I would like to remove the right of veto, it does not allow a unity of purpose. During the extraordinary assembly of 21 December we will discuss to change the rules, then we will face the reform that the same world of football has been asking for too long. time”. On the subject of the renewal of stadiums and infrastructures: “For stadiums, big events are needed – is the thought of Gravina -. We are candidates for Euro 2032, but the fall of the government has slowed down the process”.

Casini

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Lorenzo Casini, president of Lega Serie A will also be on stage in Trento. “The future of governance for Lega Serie A is the media company – is his reflection -. A solution was already offered before my arrival, which is the one that the following is being pursued: reorganizing the League in order to create a media company to which to entrust the tasks of marketing and negotiating rights, including the part abroad, keeping sporting issues in the associative part. This should simplify governance, bring an increase in revenues and cost containment “. On the subject of revenues, however, the president of the League has indicated some paths, starting with the issue of betting. “In other countries, such as in France, income is recognized for those who produce the object on which you bet. In our system this does not happen, and for some years indirect advertising has also been banned, which has led to about 100 million Euros less in revenue for the League. These are not issues that must be tackled lightly, but also by carrying on battles against gambling addiction “. On the side of the budgets, then, Casini spoke of the need to make corrections on the wages of the players and on the revenues from the stadiums, given that the main items on revenues are now represented by TV rights and capital gains.