Italian Football Federation Calls for Suspension of Betting Sponsorship Ban

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has argued that the country’s betting sponsorship and advertising ban should be temporarily lifted in order to allow the sports sector to recoup lost earnings.

“We are at a crossroads; we must act quickly to prevent the professional football crisis from obliging the clubs to block their activity, thus bringing the entire sports sector to its knees, the companies of the 12 product sectors connected to it and the entire country system, with an undesirable decrease in direct and indirect tax contributions,” Gabriele Gravina, President of the FIGC, said.

“We did not ask the government for refreshments, rather to recognise the socio-economic importance that football has through the adoption of some urgent measures to relieve the clubs from the crisis generated by COVID-19. Football can play a decisive role in Italy’s overall recovery,” Gabriele Gravina added.

The FIGC has requested a minimum of a two-year lift of the prohibition measures until 30 June 2023 in order to enable the industry to recuperate lost earnings.