Italy football federation is bracing for further disruption after the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) moved to void the election of Giovanni Malagò as FIGC president. The decision could trigger the appointment of a special commissioner, with knock-on effects for the federation’s immediate sporting agenda and the position of Roberto Mancini.
CONI president Luciano Buonfiglio has said the committee has “no choice” but to void Giovanni Malagò’s election as FIGC president, escalating a dispute that has already gone through multiple appeals.
CONI president Luciano Buonfiglio, said:
“In light of what was acknowledged by Attorney General Ugo Taucer, it is indisputably established that Malagò was not registered at the time of his application.
“If the FIGC had intended to waive this requirement, it should have expressly provided for it. As valid membership must be one of the requirements for eligibility to federal bodies, whether elective or appointed, the FIGC appears to have violated these fundamental principles.”
The problem centres on eligibility rules for the FIGC presidency. At the time of Malagò’s candidacy, he was not registered as a FIGC member because he was still based at CONI, the body that oversees sport across Italy. Opponents argued that this meant he did not have the legal right to stand.
FIGC election under threat
Following Buonfiglio’s intervention, CONI’s Consiglio Nazionale body is expected to debate the issue. If the election is formally voided, the federation could be placed under a special commissioner—a process designed to ensure governance continues while the legal and administrative questions are resolved.
Malagò’s win came after a landslide election result in late spring, but the legality of the process has become the central story. His predecessor Gabriele Gravina has dismissed the situation as absurd, warning that the matter risks pushing FIGC further into uncertainty.
Why it matters for Italy and Euro 2032
The FIGC is currently managing two pressures at once: a results crisis following a run of failure to qualify for successive World Cups, and long-term planning around co-hosting duties for Euro 2032. A special commissioner scenario also raises practical questions around the chain of authority inside FIGC, particularly appointments made since Malagò’s election. Roberto Mancini’s role as Italy head coach is frequently linked in the political fallout to the FIGC leadership that appointed him.
Timing may be influenced by the international calendar. Any governance reset would likely be scheduled to avoid interfering with the national team during a competitive window against Türkiye, where disruption could carry extra sporting and contractual implications.
The immediate next step is a formal CONI discussion, with the potential for the FIGC election to be declared void. Until that decision is made, the federation’s day-to-day operations could remain in a holding pattern, as stakeholders prepare for a possible leadership change from elected officials to an appointed commissioner.
