Juventus President Andrea Agnelli says that change is needed “in order for football to regain credibility.”
Andrea Agnelli, speaking at the Italian club’s annual shareholder assembly on Wednesday, made the comments amid the ongoing FIFA crisis. High ranking members of the world governing body, including outgoing president Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini, who have been suspended for 90 days by the FIFA Ethics Committee, are under investigation for allegations of corruption.
Agnelli said that the current crisis is an opportunity, so long as people have the “courage to face up to the problems.”
“Football needs credible responses, credible proposals and credible individuals,” Agnelli told the club’s shareholders. “In other words, we need change.”
The election for a new FIFA president takes place on February 26 and the deadline for nominations is Monday October 26. Five candidates have thus far submitted their nominations: Jerome Champagne, Platini (subject to his suspension being lifted), Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, former Trinidad and Tobago player David Nakhid and Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman al-Khalifa from Bahrain. Sheikh Salman has been criticised for his human rights record.
Agnelli also called for reform in his native Italy, claiming that the country is “losing ground on the other major leagues in terms of competitiveness.” Italy’s Serie A currently has only three Champions League places each season, unlike the four afforded to the English Premier League, Spain’s La Liga and the German Bundesliga.
Agnelli referenced the loan system as one of the primary problems. In Serie A there are 452 players out on loan, while the Premier League has 175 out on loan. “That is how you lose control of the player’s development.”
Agnelli hinted that the Italian government should perhaps pass a law in order to enforce reform. “Given sport’s importance to the Italian economy”, he said, “a single text would increase the system’s efficiency.”
Agnelli also suggested that the number of clubs in the top divisions be limited and create more B teams. It is a similar proposal to the one muted by FA chairman Greg Dyke in 2014, which received heavy criticism.
Agnelli was appointed as president of Juventus in 2010, and in his stewardship the club has won four Scudetti, one Coppa Italia and reached the final of the Champions League in 2015.
