The governing body of Italian football, Lega Serie A, has imposed a fine on Napoli subsequent to the actions taken by President Aurelio De Laurentiis in protest against broadcaster DAZN.
De Laurentiis, known for his outspoken nature, expressed his dissatisfaction before Napoli’s match against Juventus on March 3rd, reacting strongly upon encountering a cameraman in the tunnel area, employing profanities and demanding their removal, unaware that the cameraman was affiliated with Napoli. Additionally, De Laurentiis criticized the rescheduling of Napoli’s Serie A fixture against Atalanta to March 1st instead of the previously scheduled April 1st, attributing this change to DAZN. Consequently, he opted to prohibit Napoli’s engagement with the Italian broadcaster.
According to reports from Corriere della Sera via TMW, DAZN formally lodged a complaint against De Laurentiis and Napoli a few days after the incident, addressing a letter to Lega Serie A. Following an analysis of the situation, Lega Serie A decided to levy a fine of €100,000 on Napoli for their protest.
Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Lega Serie A, emphasized the contractual obligations between clubs in the topflight and DAZN, asserting that any breaches of these agreements would not be tolerated. As a result of the incident, Lazio also received a fine of €10,000.