Italy’s football association probed over amateur youth tournaments

Italy’s antitrust authority said on Wednesday it had opened an investigation into FIGC, the country’s football association, over possible abuse of its dominant position in the organisation of amateur youth games.

REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE: | Photo Credit: AIFF

The Italian football association (FIGC) is facing an investigation by the country’s antitrust authority in a dispute over the running of youth tournaments, the authority said on Wednesday.

The FIGC is accused of restricting the rights of other sporting groups to organise competitions for youth players and the dispute has its origins in a row over a tournament in the southern region of Campania in the 2021-22 season.

Officials from the antitrust authority visited FIGC offices on Wednesday as part of their search for documents.

Such inquiries can result in a fine or other remedies such as changes to the way a group operates. The antitrust agency is more normally focused on commercial activities.

The FIGC had no immediate comment on the issue.