Italian football crisis: FIGC report backs betting reform and youth investment
Italian football is facing one of the most serious crises in its recent history, marked by Gabriele Gravina’s resignation from the FIGC on 2 April and his presentation of a comprehensive recovery plan.
A central proposal would allocate a portion of sports betting revenues to youth development and infrastructure modernisation. This proposal reopens the debate on the use of betting-related funds and highlights the sector’s need for additional financial resources.
Three missed World Championships: the sign of a deep crisis
Italy has missed the FIFA World Cup for a third consecutive cycle. This is an unprecedented breaking point for a national team with four titles. Gravina attributes the result not to isolated technical or managerial decisions, but to long-term structural weaknesses.
The Italian football system faces widespread structural challenges. Talent development, club financial sustainability, and overall competitiveness remain key issues.
Betting and the potential return of advertising
The FIGC report proposes reviewing the 2018 “Decreto Dignità” ban on betting-related advertising and sponsorships, introduced to curb the spread of gambling.
Gravina recommends easing the current restrictions to allow operators to resume football sponsorship and to direct a portion of the revenues to youth academies and infrastructure projects.
According to international media sources, including Reuters, the report notes that betting-related revenues represent a significant resource; if strategically redistributed, they could play a vital role in revitalising Italian football.
Italian youth players increasingly marginalised in Serie A
The FIGC document highlights that Italian players account for only 32% of total minutes played in Serie A, while foreign players account for approximately 68%, one of the highest rates in Europe.
Italian Under-21 players account for less than 2% of total playing time. This highlights the system’s difficulty in developing domestic youth talent and supporting generational transition.
The federation proposes offering financial incentives for clubs that field Italian and younger players, as well as investing more in youth academies.
Outdated infrastructure and the need for investment
Stadium infrastructure challenges persist. Many Italian venues are outdated and not aligned with European standards, reducing club revenues and the league’s commercial appeal.
The FIGC report urges authorities to accelerate approval processes for the construction and redevelopment of new stadiums, identifying this step as essential to modernising the system and improving commercial competitiveness.
A fragile financial model
Beyond technical and structural shortcomings, Italian football records annual losses exceeding €700 million, mounting debt, and recent cases of club bankruptcies and competition exclusions.
This financial instability limits clubs’ ability to invest for the long term and increases the system’s vulnerability to recurring disruptions.
Resignations and leadership change
The situation has triggered institutional changes. Following the defeat against Bosnia, national team coach Gennaro Gattuso and head of delegation Gianluigi Buffon also stepped down from their roles.
The FIGC will elect a new president in June. The report states that leadership change alone will not solve the underlying systemic challenges facing Italian football.
A coordinated reform effort is needed
The document emphasises that all stakeholders must act in coordination to restore Italian football. Isolated reforms or limited measures will likely fail to close the gap with Europe’s leading football markets.
The FIGC identifies investments in youth development, infrastructure modernisation, and economic restructuring as essential for a more sustainable and competitive future.
Italian football must now take decisive action: reform youth systems, invest in modern infrastructure, and overhaul governance to restore credibility and international competitiveness.
This article was first published in Italian on 9 April 2026.
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