Ezio Simonelli Takes Helm as Serie A League President

In a significant development for Italian football, Ezio Simonelli has been elected as the new president of the Serie A League. This appointment marks a historic change in the leadership of Italy’s top football division and represents a victory for the traditional powerhouses of Italian football.

The election results revealed a clear divide among Serie A clubs. Supporting Simonelli’s candidacy were teams including Atalanta, Inter, Juventus, Bologna, Roma, Fiorentina, Milan, and several others. On the opposing side were Lazio, Napoli, Verona, Empoli, Genoa, and Torino, with the latter initially favoring Simonelli but later aligning with Claudio Lotito and Aurelio De Laurentiis’ position.

Simonelli’s appointment has not been without controversy. Questions have been raised regarding his eligibility due to his previous connections with Fininvest, the holding company of the Berlusconi family, which controls Monza FC and Mediaset. Simonelli has held positions in Mondadori, Mediaset, and Fininvest, potentially conflicting with the league’s independence requirements.

To address these concerns, Simonelli has reportedly expressed his intention to resign from these positions if elected as Serie A president. Inter president Giuseppe Marotta expressed confidence in Simonelli’s eligibility, stating that he has met the necessary requirements for candidacy.

However, the matter is far from settled. Lazio president Claudio Lotito is expected to challenge the appointment, with a League Council meeting scheduled for December 27 to review Simonelli’s eligibility. There is speculation that this dispute may escalate to legal proceedings.

This leadership change comes at a crucial time for Serie A, as the league faces various challenges and opportunities in the evolving landscape of European football. The coming weeks will likely see further developments in this ongoing story of Italian football governance.