Serie A

What does Serie A own?
Serie A, through the Lega Nazionale Professionista Serie A (LNPA), owns the commercial rights to Italy's top football division, the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana. The league does not own its member clubs, which are independent entities. The LNPA manages broadcast rights, sponsorship agreements, and competition regulations on behalf of the 20 member clubs.

Is Serie A publicly traded?
No, Serie A is not publicly traded. It operates as a private sports association owned by its 20 member clubs through the Lega Nazionale Professionista Serie A (LNPA). Individual clubs may be publicly traded, such as Juventus, which is listed on the Borsa Italiana, but the league itself is not.

Who founded Serie A?
Serie A was founded in 1929 by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the Direct Council of Major Clubs. The league replaced the previous regional championship format with a unified national professional football competition. The first season featured 18 teams.

Where is Serie A headquartered?
Serie A is headquartered in Milan, Italy, where the Lega Nazionale Professionista Serie A (LNPA) maintains its central administration and business operations. The headquarters houses league staff, broadcast production facilities, and commercial operations.

What is Serie A's revenue?
Serie A clubs generated approximately 3 billion euros in revenue in the 2024/25 season, a 4 percent increase from the prior season. Broadcast rights revenue was 1.5 billion euros, commercial revenue was 1 billion euros, and matchday revenue was 0.5 billion euros. The league distributes approximately 890 million euros per season to its 20 clubs from broadcast rights.

Who is the president of Serie A?
Lorenzo Casini has served as President of Serie A since 2023. Luigi De Siervo serves as Chief Executive Officer. The President is elected by the 20 member clubs and oversees league operations, commercial strategy, and regulatory compliance.

How does Serie A distribute broadcast revenue?
Serie A follows the Legge Melandri framework, revised by the Lotti reform. Half of broadcast revenue is divided equally among all 20 clubs. Twenty-eight percent is allocated based on sporting results, including league position, points, five-year performance, and historical achievements. The remaining 22 percent is based on social factors including stadium attendance, television viewership, and youth player minutes.

Serie A was founded in 1929 as the Divisione Nazionale Serie A, replacing the previous regional competition format. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) established the new league to create a unified national championship and professionalize Italian football. The league initially featured 18 teams and quickly established itself as Italy's premier football competition.

The 1930s saw the emergence of Juventus as the league's dominant force, winning five consecutive titles from 1931 to 1935 under coach Carlo Carcano. Inter Milan (then Ambrosiana) and Bologna also won titles during this period. World War II disrupted league operations from 1943 to 1945, with competition suspended and several clubs suffering damage to facilities and loss of personnel.

The post-war period marked the beginning of Serie A's golden era. The league attracted global talent and became known for tactical sophistication, producing managers like Helenio Herrera, who pioneered catenaccio at Inter Milan in the 1960s. Italian clubs dominated European competition, with AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus winning multiple European Cups. The 1980s and 1990s saw an influx of international superstars, including Diego Maradona at Napoli, Marco van Basten at AC Milan, and Ronaldo at Inter Milan, making Serie A the world's most prestigious league during this period.

The Calciopoli match-fixing scandal of 2006 was a watershed moment for Serie A. Juventus was stripped of its 2005 and 2006 titles and relegated to Serie B. AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Reggina received points penalties. The scandal damaged Serie A's reputation and led to a period of decline relative to the English Premier League and LaLiga, both of which surpassed Serie A in broadcast revenue and global commercial appeal during the late 2000s and early 2010s.

The 2010s brought financial challenges for many Serie A clubs, with several experiencing ownership changes, debt crises, and points deductions. Parma was declared bankrupt and relegated to Serie D in 2015 before working its way back. However, the decade also saw significant investment from international owners, including the acquisition of AC Milan by RedBird Capital (via Elliott Management), Inter Milan by Suning Holdings and later Oaktree Capital, Roma by the Friedkin Group, and Fiorentina by Rocco Commisso.

The 2020s have been a period of commercial recovery for Serie A. The league secured a new domestic broadcast deal with Sky and DAZN worth approximately 900 million euros per year for the 2024/25 to 2026/27 cycle. While this represented a slight decline from the previous cycle, international rights revenue has grown. Serie A clubs' collective revenue reached 3 billion euros in 2024/25, with commercial revenue increasing 8 percent to 1 billion euros, driven by new sponsorship agreements.

In 2025, Serie A clubs participated in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup, with Juventus and Inter Milan among the participants. The tournament provided additional revenue distributions that boosted club finances. The expanded UEFA Champions League format also increased broadcast distributions to Italian clubs.

In 2026, Serie A began exploring the sale of a minority stake in its international media rights business. The league enlisted JP Morgan to review proposals, with Apollo Global Management, Ares Management, CVC Capital Partners, and Sixth Street Partners among the potential bidders. The league could sell up to 49 percent of a dedicated international media subsidiary, aiming to increase international revenue from the current 250 million euros annually. A previous attempt to sell a stake in domestic media rights to a CVC-led consortium for 1.7 billion euros collapsed in 2021 after opposition from Juventus and Inter Milan.

In August 2026, Zee Entertainment Enterprises acquired exclusive broadcast and digital rights for Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa Italiana in India and the subcontinent for five years, beginning August 22, 2026. The deal covers India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and the Maldives, with matches broadcast on Zee5 and Unite8 Sports channels.

Serie A has faced several significant controversies and regulatory challenges throughout its history.

The Calciopoli scandal of 2006 remains the most damaging episode in Serie A's history. The scandal involved systematic manipulation of referee assignments by several clubs, particularly Juventus, to influence match outcomes. Juventus was stripped of two titles and relegated to Serie B. AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Reggina received points penalties. The scandal severely damaged Serie A's global reputation and contributed to a decade of relative decline against the Premier League and LaLiga.

Financial fair play enforcement by UEFA has affected multiple Serie A clubs. Juventus, Roma, and Inter Milan have all faced UEFA settlement agreements or sanctions for exceeding financial fair play limits. These agreements typically require clubs to limit spending on transfers and wages, and in some cases to pay fines. The enforcement has constrained clubs' ability to compete with better-funded clubs in the Premier League, where revenue levels are significantly higher.

The domestic broadcast market has been disrupted by legal disputes. Sky's claim for up to 1.9 billion euros in damages from TIM and DAZN stems from a 2021 deal that Italy's antitrust body ruled breached competition rules. The lawsuit creates uncertainty about the future structure of Serie A's domestic broadcast partnerships.

Serie A has also faced issues with fan violence and racism. Instances of racist abuse directed at players by fans have resulted in partial stadium closures and fines. The league has implemented protocols for addressing racist incidents during matches, including the potential suspension of play. Fan violence, particularly during high-risk matches between rival clubs, has led to enhanced security measures and restrictions on traveling supporters.

The league's ownership structure, while democratic, can impede swift decision-making. The 2021 collapse of the CVC domestic media rights deal, which would have injected 1.7 billion euros into the league, demonstrated how opposition from individual clubs can block initiatives that require collective approval. The current exploration of private equity investment in international rights faces similar risks, as any deal would require club approval.