Serie A chief blames illegal streaming for Italian football's decline

Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo has pointed to illegal streaming and the resulting lack of TV revenue as a factor behind Italy's struggles to nurture homegrown talent as the Azzurri strive to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014.
Once a permanent fixture at the World Cup, four-times world champion Italy finds itself in dire straits having missed out on the last two editions and at risk of missing out on a third after losing its first qualifier against Norway.
Italian authorities recently intensified efforts to counter online piracy, which is costing billions of euros to broadcasters and sports leagues globally as they try to protect the value of their broadcast rights.
ALSO READ | Congo to resume FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers after missing two matches
TV rights make up the bulk of revenue for Serie A teams and De Siervo said 'there is still a mountain to climb' after they lost revenue to the tune of 300 million euros ($345.15 million) last year.
'Many question why our national team is in this situation and why there is a lack of talent, one reason being the losses due to piracy,' De Siervo said at an event on the fight against piracy.
'All the money that is lost every year is not invested in the youth teams and in the growth of our young players, a major issue that has led our national team to face many difficulties.
'In addition to this, the age-old facilities do not allow the clubs and the system to obtain high revenues. This has to be changed and this law goes in the right direction.'
De Siervo said if they continue to lose revenue, Italy and Serie A could tumble down UEFA's coefficient rankings.
'We are already far behind the Premier League and the Spanish La Liga,' he added.
'If we continue like this, we will finish behind the Germans and we will end up being at the bottom of the table (of Europe's top five leagues) together with the French.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Indian Express

24 minutes ago

• Indian Express

Rashford eyes Barcelona move? Praises Lamine Yamal, expresses desire to play alongside Barca teen sensation

English footballer Marcus Rashford, who is training in Spain ahead of pre-season, has praised Spanish and Barcelona teenage star Lamine Yamal and said he wished to play alongside the Catalan star. When asked if he wanted to play with Yamal one day, he told Spanish influencer Javi Ruiz on YouTube channel XBuyer in Marbella, 'Yes, for sure, Everyone wants to play with the best. Hopefully… we'll see.' 'It's difficult to put into words what he's doing because he's not supposed to be doing that at 16 or 17. I don't think we've seen that before,' added Rashford. Last month, Barcelona sporting director Deco stated that the Catalans 'like' Rashford, as well as Liverpool winger Luis Diaz. They're also thought to be interested in Athletic Club winger Nico Williams. The England international, Rashford, on Yamal's Ballon d'Or chances, he added: 'If you look at it just off football ability, he has to win.' The Englishman's future at Manchester United remains unclear even after his contract is valid for three more years. According to Sky Sports, Manchester United had not received any offers for Rashford, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa. Rashford's decision to join Villa on a loan deal until the end of the season is paying off after being frozen out by United, with the striker returning to the England squad and starting the recent World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim had said that he let star forward Marcus Rashford leave the club for Aston Villa because the forward couldn't follow his methods. Rashford is one of a few players linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer, as head coach Ruben Amorim seeks to reshape his squad following the club's lowest Premier League finish last season. Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, and Victor Lindelof have all been released, and Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho are also expected to be available.

The Hindu

an hour ago

• The Hindu

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews wants to play T20 World Cup 2026 after Test retirement

Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews has set his sights on the T20 World Cup next year, to be held in India and Sri Lanka, after calling time on his Test career. Mathews' farewell Test match came to an end on Saturday at the Galle International Stadium—the same venue where he made his debut in the longest format in 2009—with host Sri Lanka settling for a draw with Bangladesh. 'I've still got six more months to go. I'll give it my best shot for the (2026) T20 World would love to sign off with a World Cup win. I'll just see how my body goes,' Mathews said in the post-match press conference. 'Ever since I announced my retirement, I just can't imagine the love that I have received up to now. It is so special because you feel as a player, once you give your 110% to the country, the amount of appreciation that you receive is unbelievable. It feels so special, very heartwarming and I'm so thankful to all of them,' he added. Mathews ended his Test career as the third-highest run-getter in the format for Sri Lanka, with 8,214 runs in 119 matches at a healthy average of 44.40. He also picked 33 Test wickets with his medium pace. Mathews was a part of the side which won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2014, beating India in the final, and is eyeing an encore.

Business Standard

an hour ago

• Business Standard

ENG vs IND: Jasprit Bumrah delivered when it mattered the most

Day 2 of the first Test between India and England at Headingley offered a riveting display of high-quality cricket. With top performances from both sides, the contest remains finely balanced. Speaking on 'Match Centre Live', cricket analyst and former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised the day's standout moments, particularly Jasprit Bumrah's crafty bowling and Ollie Pope's determined century. Manjrekar lauds Brumrah's bowling brilliance Manjrekar highlighted Bumrah's final over of the day as a turning point. 'Ollie Pope's hundred was crucial, but what really grabbed me was Bumrah's last over. The way he dismissed Harry Brook on a placid surface showed the class he possesses,' Manjrekar said. 'During the 2023 World Cup, Bumrah separated himself from the rest of the pace pack, and here again, he delivered when it mattered most.' Describing the tactical brilliance behind the dismissal, Manjrekar pointed out how Bumrah methodically set up Brook with a series of deliveries outside off-stump before unleashing a surprise bouncer. 'Brook wasn't expecting it, Bumrah hadn't used that bouncer all innings. It was perfectly timed and brilliantly executed.' Manjrekar compared Bumrah's consistent wicket-taking ability to that of Sir Richard Hadlee, New Zealand's legendary fast bowler. 'Hadlee had that same presence, every time he had the ball, you felt a wicket was inevitable. Bumrah gives you that same feeling. It's rare to see such mastery.' Manjrekar on Gill and Pant's partnership The day also featured a dominant 209-run partnership between Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. Manjrekar praised their synergy and batting prowess. 'It wasn't just the volume of runs but the ease with which they came. While Pant was more attacking, both looked in complete control. Against Ben Stokes, they were cautious, but the rest of the English attack looked toothless. Their mutual understanding and on-field communication were commendable.' Ollie Pope also earned accolades for his century. Despite an average that doesn't reflect great consistency, Manjrekar felt this knock was special. 'He's scored centuries before, but doing it against this Indian attack, particularly in conditions that suited seamers, means a lot more. His celebration showed how much it meant to him.' As the Test heads into Day 3, the battle between bat and ball promises to intensify, with India holding a slight edge thanks to Bumrah's late breakthrough.