Saving the Game: Gianni Petrucci Calls for Unified Reform of Italian Football

The intersection of sport and statecraft is rarely as visible as it is in Italy, where the passion for the pitch often spills directly into the halls of power. Now, Gianni Petrucci is calling for a formal, strategic alliance between these two worlds to ensure the sustainability of the sport. Petrucci has signaled that football must be “saved,” arguing that the path forward requires a collaborative effort where sport and politics jointly decide on the trajectory of reform.

At the heart of Petrucci’s argument is a need for systemic structural changes. Specifically, he points to the necessity of reforms regarding taxation and fiscal incentives. As the laws governing these financial levers are crafted within Parliament, Petrucci contends that the sporting world cannot operate in a vacuum; it must work in tandem with legislators to create a viable economic framework for the game.

A Parliament of Fans

Petrucci’s call for a partnership with politics is not a request to start a conversation from scratch, but rather an invitation to formalize a relationship that already exists in a deeply personal way. The Italian Parliament is effectively a network of football fan clubs. From the historic giants like Roma, Milan, Inter, and Juventus to the “provinciali” representing smaller territories, these clubs serve as a unique bridge between diverse political factions.

Currently, there are approximately 20 active fan clubs across the Chamber and the Senate. These groups act as laboratories for dialogue, bringing together deputies and senators from opposite ends of the political spectrum who are united by their shared allegiance to a team. For many, these clubs are a way to elevate the needs of a specific team—and by extension, a specific region—to the highest level of government.

The breadth of this influence is evident in the recent emergence of new groups. For example, the Hellas Club Parlamento, which represents fans of Hellas Verona, was presented at the Chamber on November 20. The club includes members from Fratelli d’Italia and the Lega, and saw the participation of the President of the Chamber, Lorenzo Fontana. Fontana, a long-time supporter who held a season ticket in the curva 25 years ago, highlighted the special nature of the occasion, despite his official role typically limiting such public appearances.

When Sport Mirrors Politics

While football is often touted as a unifying force, the internal dynamics of these parliamentary clubs frequently mirror the volatility of the political arena. The “Napoli Club Parlamento,” founded in 2018, provides a stark example of how political friction can seep into sporting loyalty.

Following the departure of former president Gaetano Quagliariello, a leadership struggle erupted between Gianluca Cantalamessa of the Lega and Gerolamo Cangiano of Fratelli d’Italia. When Cantalamessa secured a landslide victory—winning 34 of 77 votes—Cangiano rejected the result. This led to a formal split and the creation of the “Napoli Club Montecitorio.” This breakaway group includes members from Fratelli d’Italia, the Movimento 5 Stelle, and Forza Italia, with Arturo Scotto of the Partito Democratico serving as vice president.

These schisms demonstrate that while the “fan club” structure provides a channel for communication, it is subject to the same power struggles and ideological divides that Petrucci hopes to navigate through formal reform.

The Broader Policy Landscape

The need for political intervention in sport extends beyond domestic fiscal reform. The intersection of legislation and athletics is also playing out on the international stage regarding consumer protection. For instance, Benifei of the Partito Democratico (PD) has recently called on the European Union to step in and protect consumers from “sky-high prices” associated with the World Cup.

This highlights a recurring theme in the current sporting climate: the belief that the market alone cannot regulate the costs and taxes associated with high-level athletics. Whether it is the domestic tax incentives Petrucci seeks or the international pricing protections sought by Benifei, the consensus is shifting toward the idea that legislative oversight is essential for the health of the sport.

The Human Element of Sport and Power

The fluidity between the boardroom, the locker room, and the parliament is personified by figures like Salvatore Caiata. A politician and entrepreneur, Caiata has navigated both the legislative world as a deputy and the sporting world as a club president. His tenure as the majority shareholder and president of Potenza, starting in July 2017, saw the team win the Serie D championship in his first year, returning the club to professional football after an eight-year absence.

Caiata’s trajectory—moving through various political groups including the PdL, M5S, and Fratelli d’Italia—reflects the same adaptability and crossover that Petrucci is advocating for on a systemic level. When leaders possess a dual understanding of both sporting management and legislative process, the “path and reform” Petrucci envisions becomes more attainable.

For the global observer, this Italian model suggests that the “saving” of football may not approach from a simple rule change or a new league format, but from a fundamental realignment of how sports organizations interact with the state. By leveraging the existing passion of lawmakers, the goal is to transform “fan clubs” into functional partnerships for fiscal survival.

The next step in this process will depend on whether the fragmented political landscape of the current legislature can move past the “scissioni” of fan clubs and toward a unified legislative agenda for football’s financial future.

Do you think political involvement in sports funding helps or hinders the game’s integrity? Share your thoughts in the comments.