Italy's soccer association probed over amateur youth tournaments

[May 24, 2023]  ROME (Reuters) - The Italian soccer association (FIGC) is facing an investigation by the country's antitrust authority in a dispute over the running of youth tournaments, the authority said on Wednesday.   

Italian Football Federation (FIGC) unveils its new logo in Milan, Italy, October 4, 2021. REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

The FIGC is accused of restricting the rights of other sporting groups to organise competitions for youth players and the dispute has its origins in a row over a tournament in the southern region of Campania in the 2021-22 season.

Officials from the antitrust authority visited FIGC offices on Wednesday as part of their search for documents.

Such inquiries can result in a fine or other remedies such as changes to the way a group operates. The antitrust agency is more normally focused on commercial activities.

The FIGC had no immediate comment on the issue.

(Reporting by Alessia Pé and Elvira Pollina,; Writing by Keith Weir; editing by Alvise Armellini)

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