“I like the word peacemaker. I believe there is a need for peace in Italian football.” Words and music by Ezio Simonelli, who just a few hours ago became the new president of the Lega Serie A with 14 votes in favour, even if his proclamation was blocked until the official announcement arrived yesterday: “But legally the proclamation does not exist. I hoped that with such a solid group of companies to support me, my election was a moment to unite the League”, he tells the microphones of The Republic.
Simonelli, however, after his election a battle broke out.
“In sport you fight fairly to win and then with equal loyalty and honesty you honor the winner. Here the fight wasn't very fair. I was ready to make a conciliatory speech, not to say “I'll be the president of everyone” , which is what someone who is president says. I say that I will be a president who listens to the requests of all 20 companies, not just two or three times when the interests will be in conflict and it will be necessary find mediations”.
Will it also be useful for presenting football's demands to politics?
“I said to my supporters: it's one thing to present yourself at the government tables with a strong presidency, another with a majority of 11 votes in which after two months one or two teams that voted for you are in Serie B”.
What requests do you want to present to the government?
“At this stage the government is willing to listen to us. The issues to be presented are the restoration of the growth decree for sportsmen, which would reduce taxation on those arriving from abroad. The possibility of sponsorships from betting companies. The fight to piracy, on which the League is already achieving many results. I have seen a commissioner for the stadium problem that the commissioner of works was really helpful”.
Well, but only on Friday the League split over his nomination.
“I found what happened after the vote shocking. It's the first time a president has been elected and he hasn't been called to thank.”
Not only that: your predecessor convened a League Council to establish whether you meet the independence requirements.
“I have already told the clubs that that League Council was illegitimately convened. There will be no judgment on the candidates and independence. I have presented the self-certification as per the Statute, anyone who thinks I lied can report me, but I know I have certified the true. In listed companies, the independence of the directors is verified, not of one but of all: if necessary, we will verify the independence of all the directors as soon as the governance is established”.
