The Lega Serie A is reportedly considering taking the opening match of the season to 10 major cities around the world, similar to a move planned by the Premier League in which there would be a ‘39th game’ taken to various world cities.
The Premier League have in the past proposed having the final match of the season in territories other than England, in a bid to generate more revenue, as well as increasing the league’s popularity overseas.
Now, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Serie A could follow suit with a plan to play the first game of the new season in 10 major world cities.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said, on completion of a Lega Serie A assembly, “We are looking into the feasibility of he project, which aims to take Italian football out of the difficult period it has been experiencing.
“The idea isn’t mine,” he continued, “and came from London and then the appetite comes from eating.
“Now we are thinking about New York, London, Paris, Jakarta, Beijing and Shanghai. But it will take time and we need to talk about it.
“The idea of playing some competitive games abroad is very complex, the Premier League has been exploring the idea for years and there are also questions regarding FIFA regulations.
“The league is considering many ideas to enhance the image of Italian football, but nothing has been decided yet.
“We can maybe play the opening Serie A game abroad, or even a few rounds of the Coppa Italia.”
