Combating illegal phenomena in Professional Football in Italy: the strengths and weaknesses of the actual model of governance

Abstract

A recent report about football sector in Italy highlights the reduction of competitive equilibrium of the teams, as shown by their poor performances in Europe, the reduction of fans in the stands, the economic losses and the increasing of debts. In a previous research, we analyse the governance model established in Italy in the professional football sector, and we realize a taxonomy framework helpful for identifying appropriate tools and procedures to overcome them (Cincimino, Tomaselli, Carini, 2012). In this research we focus on a particular category of the taxonomy framework of pathologies. The aim is to explore how to contrast the illegal pursuit of football club objectives and extra club objectives. As expected results, the paper aims to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the governance model of the football sector in Italy with specific reference to contrast the criminal phenomena.