Italian league president demands state assistance

Italian league president Adriano Galliani yesterday insisted the government has a responsibility to help the country’s football clubs in their television dispute because of the tax revenues earned from the game.

Galliani was speaking after the Italian league authorities (Lega Calcio) agreed to postpone the start of the Serie A and Serie B seasons after negotiations over television rights stalled.

The delay is likely to increase financial worries in a league which has already seen one club - Fiorentina - go to the wall this summer. The Lega Calcio wants to ease the burden by spreading the club’s tax payments over a longer period and will ask the Italian FA (FIGC) to plead their case with the government.