The Italian gamers’ affiliation, AssoCalciatori, has referred to as for brand spanking new laws to mandate using Italian gamers in Serie A, with president Umberto Calcagno arguing that the federation at present lacks the authorized instruments to implement any such requirement, and that political intervention often is the solely solution to change that.
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The proposal arrives at a second of acute nationwide soul-searching following Italy’s third consecutive World Cup elimination, and the timing isn’t any coincidence.
Probably the most regularly cited structural issues in Italian soccer is the dwindling variety of Italians receiving common first-team soccer on the high degree, and no membership exemplifies that pattern extra starkly than Como.
Regardless of their exceptional rise in Serie A below Cesc Fabregas, Como have used an Italian outfield participant for only one minute throughout all the season, a determine that encapsulates the dimensions of the issue.
It’s an excessive case, however the broader image throughout the division is barely marginally extra encouraging, with many golf equipment more and more reliant on international gamers at each degree of their squads.
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AIC chief Calcagno: ‘Serie A wants reform, however this isn’t a struggle on foreigners’
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Gamers of Italy pose for a staff photograph prior the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photograph by Getty Photographs/Getty Photographs)
Calcagno was cautious to border the proposal in measured phrases. “The federation doesn’t have the authorized instruments to require that Italians play,” he stated, . “We hope that by political channels, laws on this matter may be studied. However let it’s clear, this isn’t a struggle on foreigners.”
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The excellence issues. The argument just isn’t that international gamers are damaging Italian soccer, however slightly that the absence of significant alternatives for Italian gamers at membership degree is instantly undermining the expertise pipeline that feeds the nationwide staff.
Many figures from the world of Calcio have made comparable factors within the days for the reason that Bosnia defeat, highlighting that proficient younger Italians are both being squeezed out of first-team soccer in Serie A solely or compelled to drop down the divisions to search out common recreation time.
Calcagno additionally struck a forward-looking tone on the broader rebuilding course of.
“The frustration have to be reworked into positivity,” he stated. “What’s necessary now are the programmes, reaching settlement on them, after which we select the individual to guide.”
It was a transparent sign that the affiliation’s precedence is structural reform in Serie A and past, slightly than a right away give attention to who replaces Gravina or Gattuso.