Football

Giovanni Malagò has been elected president of the FIGC with 68.58% of the vote

The Federal Council has been reappointed in its entirety. The new president will have to tackle a number of pressing issues straight away, starting with the appointment of the national team manager. Former FIGC president Gravina has launched a scathing attack on the government

by Marco Bellinazzo

22 June 2026

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Gravina attacks the Government
Malagò: ‘I’ve tried to make Italia great’
Abete: ‘My candidacy is intended to spark debate’
The protest
Re-elected Federal Councillors

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

As predicted Giovanni Malagò is the new president of the FIGC. The vote at the elective assembly held at the Rome Cavalieri – A Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Rome, attended by 245 delegates out of 273 eligible voters, saw the former president of CONI and the Milano-Cortina Foundation win with 68.58% of the vote (343,084) over the president of the National Amateur League Giancarlo Abete, who received 29.17 per cent (145,936) of the votes.

Malagò secured the backing of the groups that had assured him of their support on the eve of the vote - the Serie A League, the Serie B League, players and managers, who together account for 54 per cent – but he also secured support from 34 per cent of the LND (particularly from Lombardy, which has sided with him).

Un Mondiale non per tutti e un piano per abbassare affitti e mutui

Gravina attacks the Government

At the start of the proceedings, the outgoing president of the FIGC, Gabriele Gravina, bid farewell with a scathing speech, in which he got a few things off his chest: ‘I felt it was my duty to prevent the FIGC from being dragged into a maelstrom. I have taken a step back to encourage reflection and reinforce the path to renewal. Our reputation – and I say this for the benefit of those who have been so concerned about it in recent weeks – cannot be measured by how well or poorly we take penalties. I have also experienced my share of disappointments: our failure to qualify for the World Cup and the slow pace of reforms. The Hague has revealed serious shortcomings. I hope that whoever succeeds me will have better luck in these matters.”

Gravina, who received a standing ovation from the audience at the end of his speech, then addressed the two candidates with these words: ‘I make no distinction between friends and so-called friends’, making a clear reference to the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, who had described Abete as a friend and Malagò as a “differently so”.

Against whom, without ever naming him, he then launched into a scathing accusation, after mentioning the substantial public funding allocated to the film industry – including tax credits and non-repayable grants – but denied to football. “The government hasn’t spent a single euro on funding youth academies. There is clearly a distorted view of the national interest that has been endorsed by those who, perhaps merely to pander to public sentiment, had come out in support of the ‘Italian character’ of the youth academies. But despite preaching one thing, it decided late at night a week ago to abolish by law even the sole source of funding intended for the development of young players and the federation’s training centres, by removing the clause that allocated a minimal percentage of the general mutual fund to these purposes. With this decision – which wasn’t even announced – were they perhaps thinking of punishing both the old and the new FIGC? They were wrong: they have done football a disservice.”

This refers to the decree-law approved last week by the Council of Ministers which, amongst other things, has abolished the requirement to earmark 1 per cent of TV rights revenue (approximately €11 million) for investment in youth football, replacing it with an obligation to transfer this sum to professional women’s football clubs.

Malagò: ‘I’ve tried to make Italia great’

Before the vote, Malagò – who was cleared last week of the alleged issue of ineligibility following a ruling by ANAC, requested by Abodi, which ruled out the applicability of the rules on so-called ‘pantouflage’ – took the floor, emphasising the value of his all-round track record as a sports executive – from leading Circolo Aniene, an amateur club, to CONI, and the organisation of the Winter Games: ‘I am a son of the FIGC; I have pursued but one aim: to make Italia great. Just as at the successful Circolo Aniene, so too at CONI and in Milan-Cortina, where we had to risk everything and we devised a model that has become a benchmark… with every passing minute I feel the crushing weight of responsibility, which I have, however, borne since the day I was born. I will make you proud as we move towards a new era for Italian football.”

Malagò will have to tackle a number of highly topical issues. The first will be the selection of the new head coach. Among the names being considered is Roberto Mancini appears to be gaining ground, although it cannot be ruled out that some cards are being deliberately kept close to the chest. On the new president’s agenda are relations with the political sphere, systemic reforms, referees and the issue of the limited number of eligible young Italian players.

Abete: ‘My candidacy is intended to spark debate’

The defeated candidate, Abete, highlighted the lack of a serious pre-election debate: ‘It would have been the right thing for all parties to do to sit round a table and understand why, with 98 per cent of the vote, we were unable to get a project off the ground. The approach taken leading up to the elections was flawed, which is why I put myself forward as a candidate, a decision made at great personal sacrifice. My candidacy, however, served to stimulate debate, and I did not step aside for the sake of consistency. We have experienced sporting crises linked to the senior national team’s results; we must bear this in mind when we talk about a crisis in talent or among young people. I do not intend this to be a rousing speech, nor is it a list of problems – we are all aware of those. Today, for example, we have a problem with politics, and I hope we will resolve it, because when we go to ask for something, we will need to engage with them. That is why we must improve our reputation, which is not very high at present.’

Abete concluded by addressing the president of Lega Pro, Matteo Marani: ‘You were wrong not to stand as a candidate, because you already speak like a seasoned executive today, and I told you this even back when, during a meeting with the member organisations, we at the LND were ready to back your potential candidacy.’

The protest

A protest, complete with a banner, was staged by the group of supporters who, last Thursday, presented to the Senate the approximately 143,000 signatures collected across Italia for the petition ‘For fair and grassroots football’. Outside the Astoria Hotel. Chanting “free away trips for everyone”, “matches at three o’clock” and “we are football”, around 50 supporters from various Italian fan groups gathered outside the hotel entrance to make their voices heard.

Re-elected Federal Councillors

Prior to the election of the president, the Federal Council was confirmed in its entirety, comprising delegates from the various constituent bodies: Stefano Campoccia (vice-president of Udinese); Giorgio Chiellini (Director of Football Strategy at Juventus); Beppe Marotta (President of Inter); Antonio Gozzi (Serie B); Giulio Gallazzi (Serie C); Daniele Ortolano; Ilaria Barzella; Sergio Petrazzini; Giuliana Tambaro (LND); Davide Biondini; Sara Gama; Umberto Calcagno (Players); Giancarlo Camolese; Silva Città (Coaches).