The Italian football federation (FIGC) has rejected a request from five big Serie A clubs to reconsider the method chosen to assign funds from television rights.
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Napoli and Roma had asked that part of the funds are distributed according to the number of fans who support a single team.
The other 15 clubs of the Serie A in April voted to consider fans who support more than one side and want three agencies; Crespi, Doxa and Sport und Markt, to poll supporters.
There is a significant amount of money at stake here with about 200 million euros, equalling a fourth of the total income from television rights, are to be distributed to the clubs based on the number of their fans.
Lazio president Claudio Lotito, one of the most vocal club owners within the Lega Serie A, said Thursday that the big clubs
“can do what they want. We will defend ourselves anywhere. Meanwhile, we must go ahead with the resolution we voted and allow the agencies to do the polls.”
It is believed that the five big clubs will now appeal to the Justice Court of the Italian Olympic committee (CONI) to get the FIGC decision overturned.