There are 14653 registered football clubs in Italy, with 394 full size synthetic pitches. Player participation in males under 18 has seen a 17% increase since 2004.

The two major stadiums that have synthetic turf pitches in Italy are at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi & Stadio Silvio Piola, home of AC Cesena & Novara Calcio respectively. AS Cesena was the first club with an artificial pitch in Serie A and was in the Serie A until they got relegated at the end of 2011-12 season, both clubs currently play in the Serie B.

Some of the stadiums that have installed synthetic turf in Italy are, with the two Italian top clubs, AC and Inter Milan, playing their home matches on a natural grass pitch, but reinforced by artificial fibers.

When asked about synthetic football pitches in Italy, Antonio Armeni, President of Artificial Turf Sport Facilities Committee (C.I.S.E.A), F.A ITALY – L.N.D. said “We believe the provision of synthetic football pitches is critical to the development of football in Italy”. It is estimated that by 2014 there will be an additional 140 full size pitches and this number should rise up to 220 by 2019.

Original link：http://www.theesto.com/esto-news-link/synthetic-turf-in-italian-football