Covisoc, the internal body of the Italian Football Federation called upon to monitor the economic-financial situation of professional football teams, could soon retire. The government intends to entrust control over clubs to a special agency, as can be seen from an amendment to a decree proposed by the Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi. The aforementioned agency would be responsible for controlling the financial statements of companies soccer and of basketball.
Let’s see immediately how this new control body will work and how it will be formed. The Presidency of the Council will appoint the authority, led by three figures, with around thirty people assigned to controls. The cost of the operation, equal to approximately 2.5 million euros per year, will be borne by the clubs.
The clubs are obviously already in fibrillation and there are those who speak of a serious invasion of politics in the world of football. One cannot help but notice that the need for more stringent controls be strong, to guarantee the whole movement. The substantial difference is that currently checks on club accounts are carried out by the Supervisory Commission on professional clubs (within the FIGC), after the reform they will take place outside, at the hands of the new agency. L’UEFA and the FIFA will they have anything to say about it? We’ll see. It is certainly primarily UEFA that for years has been granting or not granting licenses to clubs to participate in the top European competitions, carefully analyzing the budgets, with very stringent requirements.
The new “Agency for the Economic and Financial Supervision of Professional Sports Clubs” will be placed under the supervision of Palazzo Chigi or of Ministry of Sports, will regulate itself and will have the primary task of examining the budgets of all the teams, suggesting any changes to be made. You may also ask to view documents and carry out inspections at company headquarters. In some ways a “Financial Police” of professional clubs. Another, decidedly important task will be to be able to bring together the leaders of the FIGC and the professional leagues to express a consensus binding opinion on registrations to the championships. In practice, you will be able to decide who will register and who will not, based on your cards and accounts in order. The change is strong compared to today, given that, after the opinion expressed by Covisoc, the final decision on registration for the championships lies with the Federal Council.
Those who criticize the provision argue that it will take away controls from CONI and the federations, with a serious interference of politics in sport, especially since the control agency will be appointed by the government. The other criticism, however, is that the reform would be imposed from above, without a debate in Parliament. But the problems linked to out-of-control accounts in the world of football (and beyond) are well known, and so far too little has been done to stem them.
Which doesn’t mean clipping the clubs’ wings (preventing them from spending), but only reminding them of the responsibility that anyone who manages a business must have.
