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16 September 2025 - 10:55
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4 September 2025 - 17:35
The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) has fined the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) over €4 million (€4.203.447,54) for abusing its dominant position in the market for competitive youth football competitions. The FIGC was found guilty of excluding Sports Promotion Bodies (EPS) and restricting their activities in amateur football competitions.
According to the AGCM, from 1 July 2015 the FIGC has implemented an exclusionary strategy to strengthen its dominant position in organizing competitive youth competitions and to extend it to the recreational-amateur market, where it competes with sports associations. This strategy was primarily manifested through the failure to enter into the agreements required by the 2014 CONI Sports Association Regulations, which are necessary for competitive activity. This allowed the FIGC to prevent sports associations from accessing the competitive events market, thus securing a monopoly.
Furthermore, the FIGC has misused its regulatory power, unlawfully classifying amateur sports associations (ESAs) with athletes between the ages of 12 and 17 as competitive. Even for athletes up to the age of 12, who are not eligible for competitive activity, the FIGC has imposed agreements between the Federation and the EPSs and pre-authorization of events, limiting the freedom of FIGC-affiliated amateur sports associations and their dually registered athletes to participate in tournaments organized by the EPSs.
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