Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 9y

Barbara Berlusconi says San Siro stadium needs to be modernised

Barbara Berlusconi says the San Siro must be brought up to modern standards if AC Milan and Inter Milan are to have any chance of returning to the top of the European game.

Although the stadium has been selected by UEFA to stage the 2016 Champions League final, the ageing arena will continue to be used just once a week and, after a meeting with Inter president Erick Thohir last week, the Rossoneri's vice president confirmed that the subject of their communal home had been discussed.

- San Siro to host 2016 UCL final

Both clubs share the belief that something needs to be done to transform the San Siro, or else they could seek a move elsewhere.

"San Siro is a fantastic stadium where AC Milan and Inter Milan have written their histories, but it's no longer enough for today's requirements," Berlusconi told RAI television. "Stadiums need to provide different services and be open seven days a week, not just on the day of the game.

"But right now in Italy, there are too many difficulties, such as financial support from the state, the regions and the cities.

"We need to do what they did in Germany, when they were very disappointed after failure at Euro 2000 and were capable of changing their governance, the rules, the people in power, the stadiums, youth development and their accounts, not just on the national team level but also at club level.

"I think our problem is a bit like what is happening to Italy as a whole, a country which does not want to modernise. Even in football it seems like many positions and many roles are protected and the desire to remain anchored to one's own seat is greater than the need to modernise."

Berlusconi was a staunch supporter of former Milan player Demetrio Albertini in the recent elections for the new Italian Football Association (FIGC) president, only for the 43-year-old to be beaten by 71-year-old Carlo Tavecchio in a vote which showed no break with the past, in spite of calls for a revolution of the game in the wake of the summer's World Cup disappointment.

Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi vowed he would abolish red tape to make it easier for clubs to build new homes, but apart from a pro-active Roma who are pushing on with plans for a new stadium, little has yet changed.

Napoli's hopes of taking ownership of their Stadio San Paolo from the city council in order to commence necessary renovation work have also not moved beyond an agreement made in April that a firm project would be presented before the end of the year.

Udinese are the closest to following Juventus' lead by running out in a modern stadium. Two sides of their Stadio Friuli have already been razed as part of works which should see a new 31,000 all-seater arena open in time for the start of next season.

Sampdoria, Genoa, Lazio and Palermo have also expressed their desire to construct new stadiums, but bureaucracy continues to provide the greatest obstacle at a time when Italian football seems to be standing still rather than moving forward, much to Berlusconi's chagrin.

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