Brussels, 03/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission may decide to open a formal inquiry next week into the Italian "salva-calcio" decree, the content of which may not be compatible with European rules. Adopted in February, the decree allows first and second division football clubs to extend over ten years the depreciation of their assets linked to acquiring players. In other words, the system allows clubs that have to pay out a large part of their budget to acquire players of worldwide renown to escape bankruptcy by allowing them to spread out their spending beyond the three years normally allowed to the other companies. Spokesperson Tilman Lueder confirmed that the Commission is seriously contemplating opening an inquiry into the matter. "It is envisaged but not yet 100% sure, as two or three things have still to be checked", he stressed. On 7 September, on the fringe of the economic forum, Ambrosetti Forum, Commissioner Monti had announced his concern about this measure which can constitute concealed State aid given the accounting and taxation advantages for Italian clubs. In his view, the information provided end June by the Italian authorities contain a large number of indications that State aid does exist. Italian under-Secretary for Sport Mario Pescante expressed concern about the turn events were taking. "This can lead to censure, to fines, to a warning or even cancellation (of the decree). In this case, it would be a mortal blow for Italian football", he said, adding that Italy would be willing to amend the decree mainly by reducing the possibility of extending spending from ten to five years. According to the Italian daily La Repubblica, the "salva-calcio" decree allowed Inter to depreciate EUR 319 million gradually and Milan AC (whose president is Silvio Berlusconi) to do the same with 242 million, the As Roma for 234 million and Lazio for 213 million. Juventus of Turin, which won the Italian first division series last year, has not used the decree.