According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, the upcoming FIGC Presidential election on June 22 will feature only two contenders: Giovanni Malagò, 67, and Giancarlo Abete, 75. This marks a significant departure from expectations, as no former Italian football stars are participating in the race to succeed Gabriele Gravina.
While neither Malagò nor Abete have officially confirmed their nominations, they are widely expected to be the sole candidates. Malagò has been formally endorsed by Lega Serie A, while the Lega Nazionale Dilettanti (LND) has put forward its President, Abete, who previously served as FIGC President from 2007 to 2014.
The distribution of voting power in the election is noteworthy, with Serie A clubs holding 18% of the votes and the LND controlling a substantial 34%. To secure the presidency, a candidate requires a majority of 51% of the votes. Consequently, both Malagò and Abete have initiated discussions with other voting blocs.
Umberto Calcagno, the President of the Italian Players Association (AIC), which accounts for 20% of the votes, and Renzo Ulivieri, President of the Italian Coaches Association (10%), reportedly met with Malagò recently. Abete is scheduled to hold similar discussions.
Although official campaign programs are yet to be released, Calcagno and Ulivieri have already proposed measures such as stricter criteria for national licenses to ensure that only financially capable entities are admitted to domestic leagues.
The Gazzetta report also indicates that the AIC will not be nominating any of its delegates, including former Italian footballers, as potential candidates for the FIGC Presidency. This comes despite media speculation linking former stars like Alessandro Del Piero, Paolo Maldini, and Demetrio Albertini to the role. The prospect of such high-profile former players running for the presidency had been considered unlikely, given that a former player has never before led the Italian FA.
The AIC reportedly would have welcomed a former player’s involvement if they had been nominated by another constituent group. However, with Abete’s confirmed intention to run, both the Players and Coaches’ Associations are unlikely to propose alternative candidates, aiming to facilitate either Abete or Malagò achieving the necessary majority.
The Serie B and Lega Pro (Serie C) are also slated to hold meetings with both Malagò and Abete in the coming days.
English Translation:
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, only Giovanni Malagò, 67, and Giancarlo Abete, 75, will contend for the FIGC Presidency, with no former Italian football legends in the running.
Malagò and Abete are anticipated to be the sole candidates in the FIGC Presidential election scheduled for June 22. Neither has officially confirmed their nomination, but Malagò has been formally put forward by Lega Serie A, while the Lega Nazionale Dilettanti (LND) has selected its President, Abete, who previously held the FIGC Presidency from 2007 to 2014.
The voting power is distributed such that Serie A clubs’ votes represent 18% of the total, significantly less than the LND’s 34%. To be elected, a candidate needs a majority of 51% of the votes, prompting Malagò and Abete to begin discussions with other voting members.
Umberto Calcagno, President of the Italian Players Association (AIC), which holds 20% of the votes, and Renzo Ulivieri, President of the Italian Coaches Association (10%), have reportedly met with Malagò. Abete is expected to have similar meetings.
While both Abete and Malagò have yet to reveal their four-year programs, Calcagno and Ulivieri have put forth proposals, including tightening the criteria for national licenses to admit only those financially capable of sustaining a season in domestic leagues.
The Gazzetta report indicates that the AIC will not put forward any of its delegates, such as former Italian footballers, as potential contenders for the FIGC Presidency. This comes despite recent media mentions of Alessandro Del Piero, Paolo Maldini, and Demetrio Albertini as possible candidates. The idea of them running had seemed remote, as a former player has never before led the Italian FA.
The AIC, according to the report, would have been open to a former player’s involvement had they been nominated by another constituent body. However, with Abete’s confirmation of his candidacy, the Players and Coaches’ Associations are unlikely to propose other candidates, aiming to support either Abete or Malagò in reaching the 51% threshold.
Serie B and Lega Pro (Serie C) are also scheduled to hold meetings with Malagò and Abete in the upcoming days.
