Serie A president Simonelli reveals start date for 25/26 season | OneFootball

Ezio Maria Simonelli, president of Lega Serie A, spoke to Rai Radio 1 about the upcoming 2025/26 season.

Simonelli revealed the start date of the next league campaign and discussed other issues, including the possibility of introducing on-demand VAR and reducing the number of teams from 20 to 18.

“There are many problems,” he said. “First of all, I would mention the stadiums, we must solve this problem before anything else. Minister Abodi thinks like me, there is a need to have a single commissioner to streamline the work and procedures.”

“I hope that by the end of February the commissioner for the stadiums can be appointed. We have stadiums that have an average age of 66 years. 66 years ago football was very different to today, spectators have other needs. This is the first point we must work on to give fans a comfortable environment.”

“A league campaign with 18 teams would mean four fewer games, but it would also mean a less exciting season, less representative of all of Italy. The change of format at the moment does not seem feasible in the short term. Even the other top leagues in Europe like Spain and England have 20 teams.”

“On-demand VAR? Absolutely yes. As a tennis fan, the fact of being able to call in case of doubt would be a positive development in my opinion. It would also give responsibility to the teams. I am in favor. We have not had the opportunity to discuss this issue in the assembly, but I think that many presidents and coaches think like me.”

“The start of 25/26 Serie A campaign? I can say that, with 99% certainty, next season will start on the weekend of August 23-24. We want to avoid football on August 15th.”