Italy's Serie A will be expanded from 18 to 20 teams next season after a deal was finally struck with rebel second division clubs who had boycotted the start of the current campaign.

Serie B will return to normal on Thursday after the clubs agreed to end their protest, the Italian Football League said on Tuesday.

Clubs were angered by the decision last month to expand Serie B to 24 teams, with three relegated clubs given a reprieve and Fiorentina promoted.

None of the opening Serie B fixtures took place, while only two matches were played in the scheduled second round on Sunday.

An Italian Football League spokesman said the deal would mean five teams promoted from Serie B this season and three relegated from Serie A.

A playoff will take place between the sixth place side in Serie B and the team finishing 15th in Serie A.

From next season Italy will therefore have an expanded 20-team Serie A, with Serie B reduced to 22 teams.

The controversy began in August when the Italian Football Federation readmitted relegated sides Catania, Genoa and Salernitana to the second division, along with Florence club Fiorentina.

The move came after Catania won a legal action against their relegation.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+Beijing girds up for fight against influenza ( 2003-09-10) +New rule limits brutal police actions ( 2003-09-10) +WTO facing tough decisions in Cancun ( 2003-09-10) +Commentary: Rural social security urgent ( 2003-09-10) +Flood affects 510,000 in Shaanxi ( 2003-09-10)		+No stupid bookings, Eriksson tells England ( 2003-09-10) +Agassi and Federer qualify for Masters Cup ( 2003-09-10) +New Michelin tyres win FIA approval ( 2003-09-10) +Italy's Serie A to be expanded to 20 teams ( 2003-09-10) +IAAF rejects White's reason for positive test ( 2003-09-10)