Latest news with #EzioMariaSimonelli
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Serie A chief hints at possible final round switch: ‘Things can change'
Lega Serie A President Ezio Maria Simonelli confirms the final round of the season could be moved with just days to spare, as the very real risk of a Scudetto play-off develops. The gap at the top of the table has been cut to just a single point with two games left to be played, while the fights for the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and relegation spots also look as if they will go down to the wire. Advertisement In order to ensure fairness, this means nine Serie A Week 37 games will be played simultaneously on Sunday May 18 at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT, 20.45 CET), with only Genoa vs. Atalanta utterly irrelevant for position now. Serie A Week 38 games still unscheduled Lega Serie A Enilive logo There were reports today that the Lega Serie A was prepared to move the final Week 38 matches forward to Thursday evening, to leave room before the Champions League Final on May 31 if Inter are asked to participate in a Scudetto play-off against Napoli. 'I repeat what I said, which is that we have a meeting that decided not to change anything, so at the moment we're playing on Saturday May 24 and Sunday May 25. That is the decision made on Monday May 12,' Lega Serie A chief Simonelli told reporters ahead of the Coppa Italia Final this evening. Advertisement 'We are waiting for the results of Week 37 and there will be another meeting, which could confirm this decision or change it. As of today, officially, we examined the matter and decided to maintain it as it is. 'In life, things can change. If the council of clubs changes its mind, then we'll change it.' NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 01: Scott Mctominay of Napoli competes for the ball with Denzel Dumfries of Inter during the Serie A match between Napoli and FC Internazionale at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 01, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by) When asked if Inter and Napoli agreed with this, Simonelli hinted that there was tension. 'Everyone has their own vision.' With just days to go, fans and television companies planning to watch the final games of one of the tightest seasons in years still don't know what day, let alone what time, they are kicking off.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Serie A Head Discloses 2025/2026 Starting Date
Ezio Maria Simonelli recently replaced Lorenzo Casini as the Serie A president and had his first interview since taking charge. He announced the starting date of the next season and more talking to Radio Rai. 'I can stay that, at 99 percent, the next campaign will begin on August 23rd/24th. We want to avoid playing on the 15th. The packed schedule is the true problem of football. It affects the teams, the coaches, and the players. However, it doesn't depend on us. We can't do anything to reduce the number of games.' Simonelli was quizzed about Serie A potentially going back to an 18-team format to address the issue. 'I will let the assembly decide on these topics. A president provocatively said that he'd have an eight-club league. Cutting down the number of sides would lead to fewer matches, but the championship would be less riveting and wouldn't represent the whole country like now. This change doesn't seem feasible in short order to me. Spain and England have 20 outfits too.' Instead, Simonelli and a few Serie A constituents are in favor of changing the VAR protocol. 'The overall judgment can only be positive. Any technology that improves transparency is welcome. However, it needs to follow common sense. We're realizing that it's not working properly in some instances and that there are some bugs. It's not up to us to solve them but to IFAB. There'll be a meeting on March 1st to discuss it. I wish that, as every year, the experience and the errors will produce improvements. I'm open to introducing the coach's challenge.'
