Napoli president and Hollywood film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis has suggested shortening football’s half-time interval or removing it altogether as part of wider changes aimed at keeping younger audiences interested in the sport.
De Laurentiis made the proposal at the TEHA Club summit in Rome, during a session titled ‘Cinema and football: the end of the attention monopoly.’
The discussion focused on how cinema must adapt to the era of streaming platforms and the constant distraction provided by mobile phones. De Laurentiis said football faces a similar challenge, particularly as younger supporters have an increasing number of alternatives competing for their attention.
“In my rapport with the United States, I realised that Americans have understood years ago something we in Europe are afraid to admit, which is that sport is competition, but it is also entertainment,” said De Laurentiis.
“That does not diminish sport, it makes it stronger. In America when you buy a sports franchise, it’s not just the team that sets foot on the pitch that night. It’s an organisation destined to survive beyond generations of players, a brand, a rapport with the city, the merchandising, hospitality, commercial relationships.”
The Napoli president said clubs and stadiums must offer supporters an experience that justifies the time and money involved in attending a match.
“The stadium has to be part of the entertainment. If you’re asking someone to leave home, travel, park their cars, spend money and four or five hours of their day, you’ve got to give them something in return. I have to earn your time, not just say you must come because you’re a fan.”
He then argued that football should be willing to reconsider long-established elements of the game, including the structure and duration of matches.
“We must have the courage to question the football product in every way, starting from the structure and length of the game. There are no sacred rules just because they existed for 100 years,” he said.
De Laurentiis pointed to the 15-minute half-time break as one possible area for change. His comments came after the 2026 World Cup Final caused controversy by extending the interval to accommodate a show.
“If the 2026 World Cup Final caused controversy by extending the half-time break to fit in a show, then the Napoli patron wants to go the other way,” the report said.
“Let’s take the half-time break. Why is it 15 minutes, why can’t it be shorter, or even eliminated entirely? Those at the stadium might wait, but do you think a kid at home will do that? No, he’ll pick up his phone, start using the PlayStation, find something else to do, and you’ve lost him by the time the second half starts.”
