The election of Ezio Maria Simonelli as the new president of Lega Serie A, still contested by outgoing president Lorenzo Casini and Lazio number one Claudio Lotito, he can open a new phase in relations between the Confindustria del calcio and other institutions, both sporting and political. A theme, that of programs, which Simonelli himself addresses in the interview given today to La Repubblica: “The government is willing to listen to us, there is an astral alignment. I respect Minister Abodi and with the federal president Gravina there is communion of thought”.
There are many issues to address: Serie A has long been involved in the fight against piracy, in which it recently won an important legal battle. The Milan court has in fact forced Cloudflare, a US provider, to block access to pirate sites and disclose users who share illicit content. It certainly cannot be the only battlefield, obviously: “We want the restoration of the growth decree for athletes – explains Simonelli – and the possibility of sponsorship for clubs by betting agencies”.
Among the themes, as often happens, also structures. Simonelli proposes the appointment of a commissioner for the stadiums “I think it is within the government's control, for Milan-Cortina it was very useful”. Returning to the growth decree, here is a concrete proposal: “If it were possible, I would also apply it to young footballers, with a tax exemption below a certain age”.
