Revolutionized Italian Cup. It's official. Much has been said about the need to change the structures of the football today, in order to revitalize the general interest, especially in certain age groups. It was therefore decided to start from this competition, even if the announced changes do not seem to reflect the general opinion.
Many criticisms circulating on the web in these hours. Many would have preferred a model that somehow followed the English one. None of this. On the other hand, an entire category of club was excluded from the tournament, which prompted many to talk about one Italian Cup in Super League version.
Coppa Italia, what changes
Il League Council has decided to substantially change the format of the Italian Cup. A request made on several fronts in recent years, even if what has been proposed does not in any way seem to meet the wishes of fans and operators in the sector.
A clear cut in the number of participants in the tournament. It was simply decided to make the Italian Cup more exclusive, reserving it for teams belonging to A league and Serie B. At the starting line, therefore, excluding a priori all the realities of the C series. So goodbye to dreams. This is the general thought. In England, the big teams are forced to face smaller clubs away from home. This involves real local events, with packed stadiums, considering the unusual arrival of great champions. Many would have wanted a similar structure, able to complicate the life of noble teams, given the warm environment, obviating the problem of vacant stands in unattractive competitions for "high-ranking" fans in facilities such as San Siro, Olimpico and not only.
Here are the elements of the new Coppa Italia to remember:
- Start date set at August 15th
- 40 participating teams, only from Serie A and Serie B
- 12 Serie A teams involved since the start of the tournament
The idea behind all this is to propose more interesting challenges right away. Competitions that can attract both the public and televisions.
La #SerieA excludes teams from #LegaPro laid down by the #CoppaItalia, president #Ghirelli: "Expression of an elite conception of football, unable to have a vision of the system" ⚽ https://t.co/c8A3MpeyIy
???? #Alexandria semifinalist 2015/16. Remember what a beautiful story? 🇮🇹#SeriesC pic.twitter.com/111tMVOy4m
- Lega Pro Official (@LegaProOfficial) May 5, 2021
New Italian Cup, the reactions
The harsh reaction of Francis Ghirelli, president of the Lega Pro. The sports manager entrusted his thoughts to an official statement: “The Serie A decision to exclude Lega Pro teams from the Italian Cup not only violates consolidated rights, but is an expression of an elitist conception of football, incapable of having a vision of the system. The Lega Pro Board of Directors is convened on Monday, which will take every initiative to protect the rights of its teams and to safeguard a football culture that is respectful of the most authentic values of sport. Innovation is right, but saving the cohesion of the football system ".
Changes in sight also with regard to sponsorship. The Serie A League has announced, in fact, that it has signed an agreement with Crypto.com. Here, then, is the partnership for the 2021 Italian Cup final, which will see Atalanta and Juventus on the pitch on 19 May. For the first time, a contract with a cryptocurrency and NFT platform is signed by a football league: "It is expected to continue in the future".
