The president of the European football associations union (UEFA), Aleksander Čeferin, sharply criticized the deplorable state of football infrastructure in Italy. In his interview, he did not hide his dissatisfaction with the fact that stadiums and other football infrastructures in the country's largest cities and clubs have not been updated.
For example, the famous "San Siro" stadium in Milan recently lost the right to host the UEFA Champions League final. The main reason for this was that the stadium does not meet world standards. There have been debates and discussions about the construction of a new stadium in Milan for many years, but in practice, no changes have occurred.
According to Čeferin, this situation is a real disgrace for a country with a great football history and traditions like Italy.
"I am seriously concerned about the deplorable state of Italy's football infrastructure at this level. Italy is one of the strong countries with a unique place in world football. You have won prestigious competitions like the World Cup, European Championship, and Champions League many times. However, your stadiums and other football infrastructure remain in the most deplorable condition among European countries. This is a very strange and lamentable situation," says Aleksander Čeferin.
The UEFA president emphasized that he is tired of discussions about football infrastructure in Italy and wants to see concrete and prompt actions, not just promises and words.
It is worth noting that besides Milan, stadiums in major Italian cities such as Turin, Naples, and Rome also do not fully meet world standards and are in urgent need of reconstruction. Most of these stadiums were built in the last century and do not meet modern requirements at all.
Čeferin's criticisms are expected to spark significant discussions in Italy. In particular, many are curious about what response measures the country’s government and local authorities will take.
The UEFA president's remarks serve as a serious wake-up call for football fans and club management in the country, as failure to take immediate action could cause great harm to the reputation of Italian football. Today, stadiums and infrastructures are of vital importance not only for football clubs but also for the entire country's image.
