More promotion spots

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) commissioner Guido Rossi (pictured) has called for an increase in the number of teams promoted from Serie B next season. Rossi believes that four or five clubs should be promoted from the second division so that the clubs relegated by the match-fixing scandal don’t take up all the available places.

This would not be the first time that such a step was taken in Italian football. As recently as 2003-2004, the structure of the league had to be revised. Catania were relegated from Serie B but successfully appealed as Siena had fielded an ineligible player in a crucial draw between the two sides.The Italian Football Federation chose to create a 24-team Serie B and to promote six teams – five automatic and one via a play-off. Only four sides were relegated from A, increasing the division to 20 teams.

This time there is no plan to increase the size of the top flight. Rossi’s suggestion would see as many sides relegated from Serie A as were promoted from B.The biggest argument in favour of the plan is that sides such as Napoli, Genoa and Brescia would still have a fair chance of making the step up to A and would not be unfairly penalised by the verdicts.