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FIR issue statement on immediate future of Zebre Parma

Danilo Fischetti of Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on December 28, 2024 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Levati/Getty Images)

The Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) have revealed that it will retain 100 per cent control of the Zebre Parma franchise – for now at least.

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The club was put up for sale in December, but only “one entity linked to the territory of Parma” expressed interest, according to an FIR statement that did not disclose further details about the potential buyer.

The statement reads: “The Federal Council of the FIR, during the meeting on Friday 7 February at the Sala Giunta of the CONI in Rome, examined the expression of interest received in relation to the possible privatization of the Zebre Rugby federal franchise.

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      “The Federal President, in inviting the governing body of Italian rugby to express itself on the expression of interest received from an entity referable to the territory of Parma, thanked the regional and municipal institutions, companies and private individuals who promptly took action to present a proposal to take over Zebre Rugby.

      “The Board, having analysed the documentation received, took note of how what was proposed was only partially compliant with the requirements and consequently resolved not to follow up, while hoping that the interest shown by the political and entrepreneurial realities of the territory could constitute a starting point for a more structured participation in the financial-administrative structure of the Franchise, as well as in the consolidation and development in the current context.”

      The Italian Rugby Federation will therefore continue to hold 100% of the shares of Zebre Rugby and the participation of the Franchise, based at the “Sergio Lanfranchi” Stadium in Parma, in the international events BKT United Rugby Championship and EPCR, guaranteeing business continuity and an increased consistency with the sporting mission, for an even greater adherence and enhancement of the federal high-performance technical project.

      Zebre Parma currently sit 15th in the URC standings, one spot off the bottom.

      This development stands in contrast to Italy’s other URC representative – Benetton Rugby – which is backed by the Benetton fashion group and currently lies in 10th place. While Zebre Parma’s on-field struggles have been well-documented, the off-field uncertainty surrounding the ownership situation only adds further complexity.

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      Comments

      1 Comment
      S
      StefanP 109 days ago

      An italian rugby fan here. FIR should have placed the franchise in a much more populated Area, like Milan. In Milan they had a glorious rugby team who still detains the most TOP10 league victories, which was disbanded years ago. The fanbase would be there. I don’t understand the choice to put it in Parma. Milan has more inhabitants, bigger sponsors, better infrastructures. We need a Milanese Rugby team in the URC!

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      Tommy B. 12 minutes ago
      Rassie Erasmus wades into heated debate over Jaden Hendrikse antics

      🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

      I’ll go with one more because it’s so funny but then I must stop. There’s only so long you can talk to the nutter on the bus.

      There is no legal impediment in the GFA to ANY form of border. It’s mentioned very briefly and ambiguously but even then there’s a caveat ‘if the security situation permits’ which is decided by the British government as the border is an internationally, UN recognised formal border between sovereign states. Now, you can argue that this is because it was assumed it would always be in the EU context - but we all know the issue with ‘assumption’. As to your hilarious drivel about what you think is in the GFA, you clearly haven’t read it or at best not understood it. There are still 1,580 British Army troops in NI. The legal status of NI as part of the UK is unchanged.

      So, there was a problem for those that wanted to use the border to complicate any future British government changing regulations and trade arrangements through domestic legislation. Hence ‘hard border’ became ANYTHING that wasn’t a totally open border.

      This allowed the EU and their fanatical Remainer British counterparts to imply that any form of administration AT the border was a ‘hard border.’ Soldiers with machine guns? Hard border. Old bloke with clipboard checking the load of every 200th lorry? Hard border. Anything in between? Hard Border. They could then use Gerry’s implicit threats to any ‘border officials’ to ensure that there would be an unique arrangement so that if any future parliament tried to change trade or administrative regulations for any part of the UK (which the EU was very worried about) some fanatical Remainer MP could stand up and say - ‘this complicates the situation in NI.’

      You’ve just had a free lesson in the complex politics that went WAY over your head at the time. You’re welcome.

      Now, I must slowly back out of the room, and bid you good day, as you’re clearly a nutter.

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