«Sad Super Cup in Arabia»; «Sad World without Italy»- Corriere.it

That the relations between the federation and the League of A were not exactly relaxed is not a mystery. Or better they are not idyllic between the federal president Gravina and the number one of via Rosellini, Lorenzo Casini. Many reasons for discussion in recent months from the reforms desired by the president of the FIGC despite the reluctance of the clubs to reduce the number of teams to 18 in the battle on the liquidity index eligible for the championship.

Today the last institutional question and answer. Gabriele Gravina raised his eyebrow in the press conference to present the new blue shirts by Adidas. «The Italian Super Cup in Riyadh? It makes me sad. Unfortunately, football in recent times has been pursuing territories and stages that ensure greater revenues. This applies to the World Cup, the Super Cup or other events. I know that today only 400 out of 58,000 spectators in Riyadh will be Italian. This is the aspect that saddens me even if it is linked to the economic difficulties of Italian football. The hope is to find a moment of economic equilibrium to cultivate football in our area».

Having read the declarations, Lorenzo Casini, in Riyadh for the final, jumped. Quick reply. “It saddens me not to have seen Italy at the World Cup in Qatar.” boom. The president of the League of A replies in detail to the bites of Gravina. “It is difficult for me to understand. What’s new? Out of 35 editions, including this one, twelve times the Super Cup final was played abroad. It started in 1993 in the USA, then over the years it went to Libya, China, again the United States, Qatar and from 2018 to Saudi Arabia. Exporting its events abroad is also a choice made by the Spanish Liga and in other sports by the NBA to promote its excellence all over the world».

Therefore, Casini underlines, «I don’t find anything sad about this. Indeed, we are very satisfied with the enthusiasm with which teams are always welcomed abroad and I am therefore very surprised by some of the comments I have read». Then the broadside. «It’s sad, on the other hand, not having seen Italy at the World Cup in Qatar. And we are all sorry that the Federation is not here with us today in Riyadh, on the day when the first football trophy of the season is awarded. Indeed, I thank the president Matarrese, an honorary member of the FIGC, for coming”. Poison lock. «I sincerely hope that the next few days are truly dedicated to reforming Italian football. Serie A has worked hard in recent months, we have our package of proposals also shared with Serie B and we expect a lot». The companies will discuss this issue at the meeting on 26 January.