There are fears inside Italian football that Serie A will lose their final Champions League place.

Italian teams risk dropping down the UEFA ranking to the degree that the Bundesliga will have four entrants and the Peninsula reduced to three from 2011-12.

"This could happen because at times our sides did not consider the UEFA Cup, now the Europa League, an adequate stage," said FIGC president Giancarlo Abete.

"Instead this tournament has equal dignity and worth to the Champions League and should not have been snubbed."

He added: "Now all we can do is stick together and hope Germany do not overtake us in the UEFA ranking."