Italy’s Undersecretary for Culture, Vittorio Sgarbi, has vowed to protect Inter and AC Milan’s Stadio San Siro from demolition, amidst plans to knock it down and build a new stadium.
The two Serie A clubs are determined to build a new ground and move away from their current home, with the existing San Siro considered dated and limiting the clubs’ financial potential.
With suggestions that the San Siro will be demolished and the new stadium built in it’s place, Sgarbi fought back against the threat of losing the iconic ground in an interview published in today’s newspaper edition of La Repubblica.
“We are preparing a bond to protect the monument. The process has already started, the director general of the ministry will sign it shortly,” Sgarbi announced.
“From Berlusconi to Salvini, up to Milly Moratti, in Milan there is no one who has said they want to get rid of it away and spending €50 million to knock it down is truly absurd.”
Sgarbi insisted that the San Siro could become a heritage site in Milan, and that it ought to be protected by the city.
“It will be a historical relational protection constraint, article 10 of the Code of cultural heritage, which does not concern the age of the monument but its symbolic value, it’s importance as a historical memory for the fans, for Inter and Milan and for the city.
“I’ll give you an example. If an ugly monument dedicated to Falcone and Borsellino (Italian magistrates assassinated by the mafia) is built, no one can tear it down even after 10 years. It’s strength is memory, what that monument means for the community, an intangible value that must be respected and protected regardless of the beauty of the work.
“The same goes for the Meazza, which is the stadium of the Milanese. And don’t tell me that it is a position taken by Vittorio Sgarbi against Mayor Sala.
“It’s not a personal whim of mine. I simply interpreted a very broad request, supported by both the right and the left. There is a document from the San Siro Green Group Association which explains everything clearly; only that at the time the superintendent did not follow the indications for lack of effort.
“Milly Moratti, who is certainly not a centre-right person, contacted me several times to ask me to intervene. I did so having the authority. The issue of proxies to which Sala appeals is nonsense. as undersecretary I can give a political indication that legitimises the action of a superintendent.”
Sgarbi also insisted that it was untrue that the city of Milan could not afford to leave a stadium of the size of the San Siro vacant and without tenants.
“Milan is the richest city in Italy, it will have no problem sustaining it,” he concluded.
