Going into Week 12 the top eight teams were crammed together in the space of four points, the tightest margin since the new system came in 1994-95.

“We are still in the early stages of the tournament and it is too early to pass judgement on the teams, but as President of the FIGC I hope this great balance and levelling of the scores continues to keep Serie A always very interesting,” said Abete.

There are fears the credit crunch will hit football in the coming months, but he is glad to note some of Italy’s success stories have already adopted a new approach.

“The country is in crisis and therefore so is sport. The football system is trying to combat this by setting the parameters and ensuring the rules are respected.

“Despite the fact some clubs still owe their financial stability to the constant investments of rich owners, I am happy that there also exist clubs like Napoli, Udinese and Lazio, who combine good results on the field with a positive annual balance sheet.

“This is the sign of a careful administration that is looking towards the future.”