UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin had once again turned a harsh spotlight on Italy’s deteriorating soccer infrastructure, describing the country’s stadiums as “by far the worst among all the major football nations.” In a week where Italian soccer is already under scrutiny, Ceferin’s cutting remarks have reignited debate over Serie A’s inability to modernize and keep up with its European counterparts.
In an interview with Sport Mediaset, Ceferin did not hold back. “Italian football infrastructure is shameful,” he said. “You are one of the biggest footballing countries — you’ve won World Cups, European Championships, Champions Leagues — but you have the worst infrastructure among the big nations.”
His criticism wasn’t just rhetorical. Ceferin expressed frustration at years of discussions around renovation projects that have rarely translated into action. “To be honest, I’m a bit tired of these discussions,” he continued. “Clubs need help from the government, municipalities, and private investors. It’s time to do something, because the situation is very bad.”
While there are signs of progress — Milan and Inter have proposed a new stadium project, and Atalanta continues to renovate the Gewiss Stadium — Italy remains miles behind countries like England, Germany, and Spain in terms of modern venues.
San Siro under scrutiny
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza/San Siro is emblematic of Italy’s stadium woes. Though iconic, it is now deemed unfit to host a Champions League final, largely due to outdated facilities and unresolved plans about its future. Milan’s bid to host the final at San Siro was recently rejected — a decision the 57-year-old explained with a blunt assessment: “San Siro is always great, but I would prefer a more modern structure.”
This is particularly sensitive with Italy set to co-host Euro 2032 alongside Turkey. Ceferin tried to strike a more optimistic tone there, saying, “I’m not worried yet. I think the government has understood it has to do something. I have a lot of confidence in Gabriele Gravina, who is my first Vice-President. He will do everything to close the gap.”
Inter writes different kind of statement — on the pitch
While the UEFA President’s words were echoing in the background, Inter responded not through a press release or political lobbying — but through soccer. In a pulsating Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona at San Siro, the Nerazzurri defied the Slovenian’s grim narrative, producing a performance for the ages in their historic yet maligned stadium.
The tie was balanced 3-3 from the first leg, and the return at San Siro provided more high drama. Inter surged ahead with goals from Lautaro Martínez and Hakan Çalhanoglu, only to see Barcelona turn the tie around and lead 3-2 with minutes remaining. But just as all hope seemed lost, veteran defender Francesco Acerbi smashed in a stoppage-time equaliser to force extra time.
In the added minutes, Davide Frattesi completed the turnaround, finishing off a brilliant team move that saw him send defender Pau Cubarsí sliding the wrong way before bending his shot into the bottom corner. The goal sealed a 4-3 win on the night (7-6 on aggregate) and booked Inter’s place in the Champions League Final in Munich.
