Italy federation seeks betting cash, youth incentives to halt decline

What Happened

Italy's outgoing soccer federation chief Gabriele Gravina proposed diverting betting revenue into youth development and stadium infrastructure to address structural weaknesses. The Italian national team failed to qualify for the World Cup three consecutive times. Gravina's report highlighted that foreigners account for 68% of Serie A playing time and young Italians represent less than 2% of playtime. He suggested financial incentives for clubs fielding Italian youth players. Professional Italian football reportedly loses over 700 million euros annually. The federation warned that lasting recovery requires coordinated action across the entire sport.

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