Serie A files for divorce

Serie A is set to follow in the footsteps of the Premier League and break away from Serie B. At a meeting of team presidents, 19 of Serie A's 20 clubs voted in favour of the new league. The split's focus is the failure of Serie A and Serie B to agree on distribution of wealth. What a shock.

The proposal was opposed only by Lecce, whose vote was probably more down to their own league position (they'll probably be getting relegated) than any sense of responsibility for Italian football as a whole.

As Il Mondo di Calcio and Some People Are On The Pitch have already noted, this is a move designed to strengthen Italian clubs in continental competition and is, like the violent itch on my inner thigh, a little rash.

I believe European dominance by England, Spain and Italy is largely cyclical. Italy's dominated before, and Spain more recently. Right now, England is pissing all over both. In theory that will change, but Serie A isn't going to take that risk. In that sense, they're right. But I really don't approve of jettisoning a country's football culture just to compete with the big boys.

Inter, Juventus and Milan will always be competitive on the European stage and this smacks of impatience. The other clubs are just after the increased revenue. Well, they say football is a universal language - money is the verbs.

On goalpostr, our Gary argued that this isn't a very good idea, and here's why:

"There are enough Italian clubs with financial problems without having the big clubs take a greater cut of the cake. The Premier League can be a great league - it's certainly exciting to watch - but it's not necessarily good for football in this country. The Bundesliga is a much better blueprint."

And that's the key point. What about football? What about the leagues below? What about the kids kicking a ball on the streets? We're losing our game.