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Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi would like Serie A to become a League for big clubs only.

The 71-year-old, ex Milan President,

believes a smaller championship would make Italian teams more competitive in Europe.

“The great sides should make their own championship. When you invest a lot in a team it's unthinkable to make them play against a team from the provinces whose stadium, usually with a capacity for 20,000 people, is inevitably half-empty.”

Speaking to Radio Radio, Il Cavaliere explained that teams with fewer spectators should have their own Division, separate from those with large grounds and huge fan bases.

Attendances at Italian football matches have been dropping, despite a recent resurgence, over the last 10 years. Violence, irregular kick-off times and ticket prices have all contributed to the decline.

“When there are great teams playing the stadiums are always full and TV audiences are massive. Only with great teams can we become protagonists in Europe again.”

Aside from owning the Rossoneri, Berlusconi presides over Mediaset, a private television company which has the rights to show Milan, Juventus, Roma and Inter.

your thoughts please

 berlusconi is a tit

I can see where he's coming from, but the principal is just wrong. I think our l eague is a very good league, and a lot of the matches are good to watch. The title race and relegation were very competitive last year, all going to the last day. The ticket prices are also quite reasonable in relation to La Liga and the Premiership.

 

I would like to see the league reduced back to 18 clubs though. Never understood the decision to increase to 20.

 

Maybe clubs should bribe the supporters with free food to up the attendance? Actually on a more serious matter, I've watched TV coverage of SerieA and it is spectacular! I think they should seriously consider downgrading the media machine, because the in game commentary is 2nd to none, the footage has every possible angle you can think of, super-slow-mo, High quality in studio guest (such as Fabio Capello before he took the England job). Now contrast that to the quality of the stadiums, which are old, and need to be revamped. There is nothing wrong with the games but the atmosphere around the pitch needs to be improved to get the fans off their couches at home.

Seems that Berlusconi is just testing the waters for another attempt at a European super league, expect to find Murdoch lurking bin the background somewhere.  On a seprate matter any news on italian games being shown on UK TV?

 

 

Nothing as yet, no company has put themselves forward.

Seems the only way to catch some of Europes best football is to go to Italy.  Does any one have suggestions for travel or recommend a company/website who can help (and knows what they are doing?).  I did read of a group of english fans travelling to French league games, is there a similar group who regularly go to Italian games?

What a rubbish idea.

Welcome to effectively the Italian Premiership Movement.

Should Italy create a Premier League based on the England's FA Premier League?

I think no becuase it would effect the Italian National teams results like has happened with the English nayional team since creation of Premier League and I am sure most Italian perfer country Italy to win World Cup than club win Champions League (but ideally want both).

 

 

 

What are you talking about? Serie A is our equivalent of the Premiership in England. It's the top football league in the country. It has the same number of teams and therefore number of matches too. Just because it isn't called the Premier League, doesn't mean it isn't the top league in the country or one of the better ones in Europe.

I think Serie A fine the way it is. It's entertaining and has some very good players. And it certainly is one of the better ones in Europe.

Serie A a boring league.

You have 496 posts at the time of writing this, yet I struggle to pinpoint any significant contribution you make to this forum. You post in every single thread going, and instead of contributing to discussion you post short sentences of around 10 words max. No elaboration, no nothing.

 

If you're going to make such a stupid comment, at least back it up. You clearly do not watch any Serie A whatsoever.

Astafjevs you are one smart guy. Why is the Serie A not getting as good a coverage as La Liga here on UK  television ?