Italy: Stadium law passes second first hurdle

ACF Fiorentina Stadium, Stadio Artemio Franchise. Photo: Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

The law change that should allow for old stadiums to be restructured has passed its first hurdle and could be ratified on September 14.


According to Footballitalia, the rule has been nicknamed Sbloccastadi – Stadium unblocker – and will simplify the current rules that make the restructuring of arenas so difficult in Italy.

Clubs such as Fiorentina, Genoa, Sampdoria, Bologna, Pescara, Crotone, but even potentially San Siro, could have the opportunity to fundamentally restructure and improve existing venues.

So far, this has been an avenue fraught with legal difficulty due to the rules that currently consider any structure older than 20 years to be one of architectural significance.

The change has been passed by the Senate and must now be voted through by the House by the September 14 deadline.

It is a victory for Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso, who has not been shy about his frustration at the antiquated rules that are holding back investment and modernisation in Italian football.

This new ruling would resolve the Stadio Franchi issues and allow Commisso to invest in revamping the existing arena.

In theory, the change could also make it easier for clubs to build their own new stadiums, something that has proved practically impossible for Roma, Lazio and more.