The Italian Competition Authority recently fined the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (“FIGC”), the Italian Soccer Federation, more than EUR 4 million after finding that the organization had abused its dominant position in the youth soccer competition market since at least July 1, 2015. According to the Authority, the FIGC also restricted the ability of other sports organizations, including Enti di Promozione Sportiva (“EPS”), to operate in the market for amateur soccer competitions. The Authority imposed the fine after it determined that the FIGC failed “to conclude the agreements required by the Coni EPS Regulation (2014) for the conduct of competitive activities,” which precluded the EPS from organizing competitive events, essentially securing its “substantial monopoly position.” The Authority also found that the FIGC used its regulatory power to reduce the EPS’s ability to organize amateur competitions involving athletes between 12 and 17 years of age and to impose pre-authorization requirements that prevented athletes under the age of 12 from participating in tournaments organized by the EPS – actions that effectively weakened competition in the market for organization of recreational events.
Italian Competition Authority Press Release