By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has launched a fresh and forceful attack on football’s governing bodies, accusing UEFA, FIFA and the Italian Football Federation of profiting at the expense of clubs.
In remarks reported by *Calcio Finanza*, De Laurentiis questioned the financial structure of modern football governance, arguing that clubs, the primary investors in players, are not fairly compensated.
“They make too much money when the profits should go to the clubs and not the federations,” he said.
“They say they distribute the wealth, but that’s not the case. They lie, they don’t tell the truth.”
The outspoken Napoli owner went further, proposing a pay-per-use model for players released to national teams, insisting that clubs should be financially compensated whenever their players are called up.
“If they want our players, they have to pay them,” he said.
“If a year’s salary is 10 million, if they have the players for a month, they have to give me 1 million.”
De Laurentiis argued that the current system places an unfair burden on clubs, who invest heavily in recruiting, developing and paying players, only to release them for international duty without direct financial return.
“Why should I give them away for free? They’re my property, not theirs,” he added.
Beyond financial concerns, De Laurentiis also made serious allegations regarding the integrity of national team selections in Italy, suggesting that the process may not always be transparent.
“It’s too easy for them to take 15 players and not pay them, or they receive money under the table from agents to call them up to the national team,” he said.
“It’s unprofessional, but it’s happening in Italy.”
The comments are likely to spark strong reactions across football’s governing landscape, particularly given the sensitivity of issues surrounding player welfare, compensation and the relationship between clubs and national associations.
While FIFA and UEFA operate compensation frameworks, particularly for major tournaments, clubs have long debated whether such mechanisms adequately reflect the financial risks they carry, especially in cases of player injuries sustained during international duty.
De Laurentiis’ latest remarks add to a growing chorus of club executives calling for reforms in football’s economic structure, with increasing tension between elite clubs and governing bodies over revenue distribution and player management.
As the global football calendar continues to expand, his criticism highlights a deeper and ongoing debate: who truly bears the cost of modern football, and who benefits most from it.
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