By Marta Elena Casanova
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Index
Automatic salary cuts in case of relegation
The agreement signed in August 2025 between Serie A and AIC (Italian Footballers’ Association) marks a historic turning point for Italian football. For the first time, a mechanism for automatic salary reduction has been introduced in case of relegation to Serie B, with a 25% cut included in player contracts. This measure, already in force for top-flight players, raises broader questions: could a similar model work in Serie B too?
A paradigm shift in Serie A contracts
The new collective agreement is the result of months of negotiations between Serie A and the AIC. The principle is as simple as it is revolutionary: if a team is relegated from Serie A to Serie B, all player contracts are automatically reduced by 25%.
There are two main goals:
- to ensure financial sustainability for relegated clubs, which often need to drastically reduce their wage bills;
- to prevent clubs from being stuck with Serie A-level contracts that are unaffordable in Serie B.
This clause should also be seen alongside the reduction of so-called “parachute payments” — funds distributed by the league to help relegated clubs absorb the financial blow. With lower wages, these funds can be reduced as well, generating systemic savings.
A model for Serie B?
But if it works in Serie A, why not apply the same logic to Serie B? Relegation from Serie B to Serie C is just as economically traumatic — if not more. TV rights collapse, sponsorships shrink, and many clubs struggle to survive.
Applying a 25% automatic wage cut in the event of relegation to Serie C could:
- protect clubs from cash flow crises;
- lead to more realistic budget planning;
- encourage players to commit to more sustainable projects, not just the most ambitious teams.
Moreover, many Serie B clubs sign multi-year contracts that become burdens in case of relegation. “Salary cut clauses” could help balance sporting ambition with financial caution.
The challenges in Serie B
However, implementation would not be easy. Unlike Serie A, where contracts often exceed one million euros, average salaries in Serie B are much lower (between €100,000 and €200,000 gross per year). A 25% cut could become unsustainable for many players who are already underpaid compared to their Serie A peers.
Furthermore, Serie B features very diverse clubs — some recently relegated from Serie A with professional structures, others closer to Serie C in terms of resources and fanbase. A uniform rule could exacerbate internal imbalances and competitive inequalities.
Lastly, from a labor rights perspective, the AIC has always defended the contractual protections of players in all leagues, and automatic cuts could set a dangerous precedent.
What happens abroad?
Similar models already exist in other countries. In England, many Premier League clubs include “wage reduction” clauses in contracts, typically reducing salaries by 20% to 40% upon relegation to the Championship. In the Bundesliga, while less formalized, it’s common practice to negotiate clauses tied to the league status. In Spain, clubs like Levante and Valladolid have adopted flexible wage formulas linked to their top-flight survival.
In Italy, the 2025 Serie A–AIC agreement is a first step toward more modern contracts, but the country’s sporting and legal culture makes a blanket extension across all leagues more complicated.
The role of FIGC and lower leagues
The ball is now in the court of Serie B and the FIGC, which could open a technical dialogue with the AIC to explore contract flexibility even in lower tiers. Not necessarily a 25% automatic cut, but progressive clauses, variable incentives, or survival bonuses could represent a fair compromise between labor protection and financial sustainability.
The agreement between Serie A and the AIC on relegation-triggered salary cuts marks a turning point for Italian football. In a system increasingly focused on financial health, introducing fairer and more adaptable rules in lower divisions may be the real challenge of the coming years. Serie B is watching closely — but dialogue, balance, and shared vision will be essential to prevent club crises from turning into sporting and social disasters.
By Marta Elena Casanova
