Carlo Tavecchio is determined to push through reforms in Italian football including squad limits and a return to an 18-team Serie A.
The President of the Italian Football Federation chaired a second Federal Council in Rome today and afterwards updated the Press on his intentions.
One key change is a plan to reduce Serie A to 18 teams, Serie B to between 18 and 20 teams, and to also push the Lega Pro 'to as few teams as possible’, in what the 71-year-old described as 'the mother of all battles’.
“It's useless that we go around in circles for years and not do anything concrete,” Tavecchio has commented.
“The logic behind reducing the amount of professional teams is in the facts. In this way our resources will be better shared. It's useless to hide the fact that our financial situation isn't pretty.
“This is the dominating theme - a revised Serie A, Serie B and Lega Pro.
“And the timing on this? During the next three years.”
The reason behind reducing the number of players in each club’s squads is also to cut down on costs, but Tavecchio wants to ensure that Italian players are given space as well.
In the new 25-man proposed limit, a minimum of four players will need to have come up through the team's academy, and four others developed nationally.
“The squad reductions will gradually come into effect starting next season,” Tavecchio explained.
“In two or three years, clubs will have to abide by these new regulations in order to control costs and as a way of valuing Italian players who come up through the academy systems.
“It's going to come gradually. But already the teams that participate in European competitions have to abide by this same setup.”
