Serie A to breakaway

Italian top-flight to follow Premier League example

Last updated: 7th October 2008

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Serie A is separating from B.

Massimo Cellino
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Italy's top-flight is set to follow the example of the Premier League in England by breaking away from the other divisions.

Serie A and Serie B clubs have never seen eye to eye on money when it comes to deciding television rights.

The two divisions make up the Italian League and the chairmen of each club have been meeting this week to try and broker a deal.

But Serie B is set to reject an offer of nearly £40million for television rights from their Serie A counterparts; a decision that is set to hasten the split.

Serie A clubs have seen how profitable a breakaway can be, with the Premier League now the most lucrative domestic competition in the world.

"The day has arrived. The league is 20 years behind and we cannot lose any more time," the president of Serie A's Cagliari Massimo Cellino was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Serie A is separating from B."