The paywall plan

On 29 July 2026, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) presented Roberto Mancini as national team coach and Claudio Ranieri as technical director. Ahead of the event, media outlets received an email stating that to obtain broadcast-quality images of the press conference, produced by FIGC and under its exclusive camera access, they would have to pay 500 euros plus VAT (totalling 610 euros). News agencies faced a steeper charge of 1,200 euros plus VAT. Payment was required in advance via bank transfer. The demand triggered immediate backlash.

Immediate outcry

Michele Criscitiello, director of the SportItalia network, launched a furious on-air monologue. He disclosed the email and condemned the fee as symbolically offensive.

“You are stepping on every value of the National team. With Mancini you have already trampled everything there was to trample. With these moves, not only is the system's behaviour becoming disgusting, but it is an offence to us and to the other 100 broadcasters, 300 radios, 300 televisions, who want to broadcast the words of the coach.”

Criscitiello declared his channel would not film anything: "We don't care. It's not about the money, it's about the National team not being a club."

The Italian Sports Press Union (USSI) and the Rome Press Association (Associazione Stampa Romana) joined the protest. Stampa Romana called the practice "the old bad habit of limiting press freedom" and noted FIGC did not admit external cameras, leaving payment as the only route. USSI voiced "perplexity" at the charge and later criticised the inconsistency with professional clubs that now offer images for free.

“The choice appears counter to what now happens at many professional clubs where press conference images are made available free to the media through official channels.”

FIGC's explanation

FIGC's communication office responded that the centralised production of images had been in place since 2020, naming previous presentations for Luciano Spalletti and Gennaro Gattuso. The federation argued it was merely recovering a "technical cost", and stressed that journalist accreditation and physical access to the press room, with the ability to ask questions, remained free, subject to available seats.

President Malagò steps in

Just as the press conference began at 18:20 local time, FIGC president Giovanni Malagò addressed the controversy directly. He accepted personal responsibility and promised to review the policy.

“If there is a responsibility, I take it on myself. I've been told this has been the case since 2020. In just over a month I haven't had this among my priorities, but in September everything will be clarified, one way or the other. If there has been an error, we will remedy it.”

He added that "information for a fee is not correct" and pointed out that entrance to the event was free; only the images were paid. According to Il Fatto Quotidiano, Malagò also promised "we will give all the money back", marking yet another reversal in his first month leading Italian football. The press conference then proceeded, broadcast live on Sky Sport 24.