Aleksander Ceferin, President of UEFA, has already voiced grave alarm about the deterioration of Italy’s football facilities. Italy is preparing to co-host the 2032 men’s European Championship with Turkey. His comments highlight a very serious situation that must be addressed in a country known for its illustrious footballing heritage. Ceferin, who hailed Italy’s glorious history, insisted that the country still lags behind all other leading footballing nations in infrastructure.
A special mention should be given to Ceferin’s tribute to Italy, a football superpower, with four World Cups and European Championships. He pointed out that it’s the country with the most crumbling infrastructure of all major nations. “Italy’s football infrastructure is a shame. You are one of the biggest footballing countries, you’ve won many World Cups, Euros, Champions Leagues. At the same time among the big countries you have by far the worst infrastructure,” he stated.
More Than Just Discussions
At the time, Ceferin did not mince words regarding the need for further discussions on the matter, pointing to a distinct lack of measurable progress. “To be honest, I’m a bit tired of these Italian discussions about infrastructure, because all we see is discussions,” he said. He thinks it is essential for the new Italian government to act firmly to address this state of affairs.
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin stressed the importance of clubs receiving assistance from sovereign governments and local authorities. This assistance is key for enabling private investment absolutely essential for their infrastructural build out. “The clubs need help from the government, they need help from municipalities. Private investors will invest. It’s time to do something, because the infrastructure is terrible,” he added.
Confidence in Leadership
Despite his concerns, Ceferin expressed optimism about future improvements under the leadership of Gabriele Gravina, his first vice-president at UEFA. I have really much confidence in Gabriele Gravina, then my first vice-President. And he’ll be doing everything within his power to make up for that shortfall. This statement reflects Ceferin’s belief that with the right leadership, Italy can advance its football infrastructure and regain its competitive edge.
Looking ahead to the 2032 championship, Ceferin said he was optimistic about Italy’s capacity. He’s not too concerned about their overall readiness for the upcoming tournament at this point. “I’m not worried yet (about the Euros). I think that now, the government has understood that it has to do something,” he concluded, signaling a potential shift in governmental priorities regarding football infrastructure.
A Path Forward
Italy’s footballing history is one filled with glory, but its infrastructural issue has become a glaring roadblock to replicating those successes in the future. That last bit, the joint co-hosting of the 2032 men’s European Championship, is especially big news. Italian football authorities need to address these key matters immediately. UEFA’s new leadership is urging all of this and more. This could finally provide stakeholders in Italy the impetus they need to transform talks into tangible advancements for the future of calcio in the country.
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