De Laurentiis wild idea of scrapping half-time break to win young fans | OneFootball

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has come up with some unusual ideas for making football more popular with young people. ‘Why not shorten the half-time break or remove it altogether?’

The patron and Hollywood movie producer spoke at the TEHA Club summit in Rome, during a session called ‘Cinema and football: the end of the attention monopoly.’

It covered subjects including how cinema can and must adapt to the age of streaming services and the constant distraction of mobile devices, but the same applies to sport in his mind.

De Laurentiis novel ideas for football

NAPLES, ITALY – JULY 14: New SSC Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri and Aurelio De Laurentiis SSC Napoli President as Massimiliano Allegri is unveiled as the new SSC Napoli head coach at Teatro di San Carlo on July 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“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 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.”

NAPLES, ITALY – JULY 14: Massimiliano Allegri new SSC Napoli head coach with Aurelio De Laurentiis SSC Napoli president Massimiliano Allegri is presented as the new SSC Napoli head coach at Teatro di San Carlo on July 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Where De Laurentiis perhaps went a little off piste was his suggestion to modernise the game in order to stop young people getting distracted, including fundamental changes to the rules.

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.

NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 26: Aurelio De Laurentiis, President of SSC Napoli, celebrates the victory of Serie A TIM during the SSC Napoli Trophy Parade on May 26, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“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.

“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.”