The seventh edition of the Social Football Summit (SFS) came to an end with exceptional results, marking a successful two-day event dedicated to the football industry. The Summit, held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, featured over 60 panels, more than 150 speakers, and attracted over 4,000 attendees, including industry professionals, executives, journalists, students, and enthusiasts.
Among the distinguished guests were UEFA’s Michele Uva and Giorgio Marchetti, Luigi De Siervo, President of Serie A, Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga, and representatives from both national and international clubs, including Atlético de Madrid, Real Betis, Juventus, West Ham, Barcelona, Inter, Milan, Chelsea, Napoli, Roma, Manchester United, Banaat FC, OM, Como, Brighton, and Udinese.
The event covered key topics for the future of football, from sustainability to AI, TV rights, new entertainment models, and emerging technologies. A particular focus was placed on social inclusion, with the AIL partnership, and innovation—core values that the Summit continues to strongly promote.
As in previous years, sustainability was a pillar of the SFS: the event was designed as a green initiative, aiming to minimize environmental impact and focusing on low-emission solutions.
The evening of November 19th saw the much-anticipated return of the SFS Awards, held in the stunning Protomoteca Hall at Campidoglio, where awards were presented to clubs, managers, and innovators who made significant contributions to the football industry in the past year. Among the winners were Atlético de Madrid, recognized with the “Best Digital and Social Media Team Club” award, and Sofie Junge Pedersen, honored for her environmental efforts, as well as Clara Simonini, who received the “Female Leadership in Football Award” in memory of Emanuela Perinetti.
A particularly notable moment was the SFS Extra Time Almaviva competition, where eight innovative startups competed, with the winner being Pick Eat—a collaboration between students from the University of Genoa, Polytechnic University of Turin, and the University of Milan-Bicocca.
With this edition concluded, SFS would like to extend thanks and appreciation to its institutional partners: Sport e Salute, FIGC, Regione Lazio, and Roma Capitale, as well as the more than 70 companies that supported the event as partners and sponsors. SFS continues to solidify its position as a leading platform for networking, education, and innovation in football. The organization is already preparing for the eighth edition, set for 2025, with the goal of surpassing the successes achieved so far.
Seventh edition of the SFS ends here. Looking forward to november 2025
The seventh edition of the Social Football Summit (SFS) came to an end with exceptional results, marking a successful two-day event dedicated to the football industry. The Summit, held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, featured over 60 panels, more than 150 speakers, and attracted over 4,000 attendees, including industry professionals, executives, journalists, students, and enthusiasts. Among the distinguished guests were UEFA’s Michele Uva and Giorgio Marchetti, Luigi De Siervo, President of Serie A, Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga, and representatives
Sporting events: impacts and repercussions on the tourism industry
With over 50 million visitors in 2024 and an average stay of 4.2 days, Rome and the Lazio region are experiencing significant growth in their tourism industry. These impressive numbers, which show a substantial increase compared to previous years, are further bolstered by the upcoming Jubilee in 2025. A panel discussion titled "Sporting Events: Impacts and Reflections on the Tourism Industry," moderated by Francesca Buttara of Dowell, delved into these growth factors, potential risks, and the overall tourism system of Rome
How to Enhance the Fan Experience with Adobe
The panel organized by Adobe during the Global Stage focused on monetizing the fan experience, exploring how different organizations can leverage technology and personalization to increase audience engagement. The speakers in this case were 5: Alfonso Becerra, Director of Commercial Innovation, Mexican Football Federation; Marco Di Dio Roccazzella, Shareholder & Managing Director, Global Retail & Consumer Market Leader, and Global Strategy, Data & AI Leader at Jakala; Andrea Peron, Sales Leader Enterprise and Commercial at Adobe; Alexis Grigoriadis, Marketing Director
Venue visions: the future of sport facilities
From the new Spotify Stadium to the Allianz in Turin, passing through the new projects planned, such as integrating technology and events. The vision of the venue where sporting events take place, and not only, was at the heart of the panel moderated by Ivan Ortenzi, which saw the participation of Jordi Penas, head of the Barcelona Museum, Paolo Monguzzi, Stadium & Consumer Business Director of Juventus Football Club, Luca Montebugnoli, Founder Chairman and CEO of Vivaticket, and Silvia Prandelli Senior
The Future of Sport in Lazio: towards new rules and cooperations
Regulatory developments, growth of the tourism and conference industry, accessibility of facilities, and cooperation with local authorities were the topics discussed during the panel featuring the Lazio Region and Sport e Salute, both institutional partners of the seventh edition of the SFS. Francesco Rocca, President of the Lazio Region; Elena Palazzo, Regional Councillor for Tourism, Environment, Sport, Climate Change, Energy Transition, and Sustainability; and Marco Mezzaroma, President of Sport e Salute, engaged in discussions on pressing current issues. The panel was
Interview with the World Champion CMO
During the seventh edition of SFS, the expansion of the AFA brand was also discussed. Giorgia Cenni from Sky Sport interviewed Leandro Petersen of the Argentine Football Federation."We are the federation with the highest revenue from sponsorships", Leandro Petersen began, adding, "We are signing deals with major multinational companies, and we are highly focused on strategic, growing markets like the USA, China, and the Middle East".The Argentine delegate also touched on past challenges: "We started from a difficult position, with
Giusy Meloni interviews Longoria and Suwarso
It was an intense second morning at SFS24 with a panel moderated by Giusy Meloni, who interviewed the President of Marseille, Pablo Longoria, and the President of Como, Mirwan Suwarso. The first to speak was Longoria, who made some very important statements: "Marseille is a special environment. Our need is to continuously engage with our ownership. Obviously, sports results are essential, but at the same time, it’s important to pursue financial sustainability. At the same time, we maintain a social contract
The impact of injuries according to the AIC
The AIC kicked off the second day of SFS24. On stage were the president of the association, Umberto Calcagno, alongside Fabio Giuseppe Poli, the AIC’s Organizational Director, and collaborator Marco Piccinini.“We conducted a study on Serie A, the Premier League, and La Liga, analyzing the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons, which took place between the World Cup and continental competitions. Our findings show that the increasing number of matches has a significant clinical impact on players, driving up the cost of
SFS AND BYD: THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
BYD, a global leader in electric vehicle production, to promote a sustainable mobility model that aligns with the values of innovation and environmental respect, is the green mobility partner of SFS24. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the Summit's commitment to tangible sustainability, bringing together the world of sports and cutting-edge technology. At this year’s edition of SFS, BYD is present as an official partner to raise awareness and inspire participants about the opportunities offered by electric vehicles. Special
SFS Awards: an evening of celebrations at Campidoglio
In the prestigious setting of the Protomoteca Hall on Campidoglio, the SFS Awards 2024 celebrated the excellence of the Football Industry. The evening, once again hosted by Giusy Meloni, was enriched by the presence of SFS’s institutional partners. It provided a unique opportunity to spotlight the synergy between sports, innovation, and social impact. The evocative backdrop of Campidoglio made the event even more memorable, blending the city's historic charm with the warmth of an enthusiastic audience. One of the most heartfelt