Serie B to be restructured

The 2005/06 Italian season will see Serie B divided into two regional divisions, providing an agreement reached today between the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Lega Calcio is ratified at a federal meeting on 28 April.

Regional divisions
In today's meeting attended by FIGC president Franco Carraro and the Lega Calcio president, Adriano Galliani, and his deputy, Dr Antonio Matarrese, the bodies decided to act in an attempt to solve the crisis currently gripping clubs in southern Italy. Splitting Serie B into two regional divisions with two of the four promotion places going to each group, would guarantee southern representation in the top flight.

Differing opinions
Yet nothing is certain at this stage. The FIGC wants to divide Serie B into two divisions of 18 teams, while the Lega Calcio is in favour of two regional divisions of ten teams each. The two parties have agreed that the number of teams in the restructured Serie B will be decided in September.

'Really pleased'
After the meeting the FIGC vice-president, Giancarlo Abete, said: "We are really pleased with the result achieved with this meeting. We have solved all the problems we had with the Lega Calcio and made a step forward by deciding to divide Serie B into two groups starting from the 2005/06 season."

Experimental project
Lega Calcio president Galliani said: "We understood the problems affecting southern clubs. We have decided to start with an experimental project in 2005."