The Italian men’s volleyball league (SuperLega) imposed a rule on coaches which opposes the double club/national team role, defying a common practice not only in Italy but across the globe.
The SuperLega coaches are protesting against the imposition of the major organization of Italian men’s club volleyball, including financial penalties for clubs with dual-duty head coaches and assistants.
At a press conference in Modena, Andrea Giani (coach of Valsa Group Modena and France Men’s National Team), Roberto Piazza (Allianz Milano and the Dutch Men’s National Team), Fabio Soli (Top Volley Cisterna and Estonia Men), Matteo De Cecco (assistant in Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza and Slovenia Men), and Radostin Stoytchev (WithU Verona) talked about it, pointing out that most of the SuperLega experts share this protest line.
The rule imposed by the league provides for a penalty of 100,000 euros to clubs that have coaches or assistant coaches engaged by two employers, plus 10,000 euros if an exclusivity clause isn’t included in the contract, and 5,000 euros if the SuperLega isn’t notified.
The lawyer representing coaches requested the Italian federation (FIPAV) to take a position and open the discussion, “otherwise it’s our intention to seek justice in the appropriate institutions.“ The fact that, for example, in women’s volleyball in Italy or in other sports, such as basketball, such imposition doesn’t exist was emphasized.
