Italy scraps plans to extend tax breaks for clubs' foreign signings

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Serie A - Lazio v AS Roma - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - March 19, 2023 President of Lazio Claudio Lotito celebrates after the match REUTERS/Alberto Lingria/File Photo

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's government late on Thursday dropped a draft proposal that would have extended until the end of February tax breaks of up to 50% on the wages of sport clubs' new signings from abroad, drawing criticism from the country's top soccer league.

The measure, which is now due to expire on Dec. 31, has been in place since early 2020 and was especially tailored to Italy's Serie A top-flight soccer league.