Serie A is sticking to its tried-and-tested 20-team system. The move by a prominent quartet has now been officially blocked
In recent weeks, Italy’s top clubs have made no secret of the fact that Inter Milan, Juventus Turin, AC Milan and AS Roma would like to switch to a league format with 18 teams.
The Gazzetta dello Sport had already reported at the beginning of January that the soon to be even fuller fixture list with regard to the Champions League reform and the new Club World Cup from summer 2025 had prompted a rethink.
The Bundesliga and Ligue 1 would have been the model, but Italy’s smaller clubs, which are the main victims, have already spoken out publicly against the idea. And as it would have taken 14 votes from the league to implement the reduction to 18 teams, the project had little chance of success.
Only four clubs in favor of FIGC reform proposal
On Monday, it became official that the reform proposal initiated by the Italian Football Federation FIGC (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio) was rejected. Only the prominent Serie A quartet voted in favor – the remaining 16 teams voted against it.
Urbano Cairo, president of Turin FC, explained after the vote that Inter, Juve, Milan and Roma probably wanted to “create a kind of Super League”. However, the move did not sow discord. “If you look at the most important leagues in Europe, the English and Spanish leagues, they have 20 teams. That’s the format that works,” said Cairo.
According to the head of the association, Gabriele Gravina, the aim of the reform was to improve the economic situation for all teams. TV money would also have increased – but the majority opted for the league system that Serie A has used since the 2004/05 season. Since then, 20 clubs have been competing for the Scudetto. Previously, there had been 18 teams
