Malagò appointed extraordinary commissioner of Italian Football Federation with new elections set for December
The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) has unanimously approved the appointment of Giovanni Malagò as extraordinary commissioner of the Italian Football Federation (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, or FIGC), with fresh presidential elections scheduled for 14 December 2026. The decision, ratified by the CONI National Council on Tuesday, resolves a weeks-long crisis triggered by a technical irregularity in Malagò's June election as Figc president.
Malagò, who served as CONI president until his election to lead Italian football, was found to have not been a registered member of the Figc at the time of his candidacy. The oversight called into question the legitimacy of his election and prompted CONI's current president, Luciano Buonfiglio, to initiate proceedings to place the federation under administration — a move that risked deepening institutional divisions within Italian sport.
A compromise to preserve stability
The unanimous vote followed an agreement reached between Buonfiglio and Malagò shortly before the meeting of the CONI executive board. Rather than removing Malagò entirely, the compromise sees him remain at the helm of Italian football in a caretaker capacity, tasked with steering the federation toward new elections.
"For me there is no winner or loser, sport has won," Buonfiglio said after the vote. He defended the decision as necessary to "make the rules prevail and preserve the autonomy of the sporting world," while acknowledging that Malagò had acted in good faith during his candidacy.
Malagò described the episode as "sad and embarrassing" but said he accepted the solution "so that further splits and embarrassment could be avoided." Under the terms of the appointment, he will manage only ordinary administration until the 14 December elections at the Hilton Rome Airport hotel in Fiumicino.
What the rules require
The Figc statute and electoral regulations require that presidential candidates be registered federation members at the time their candidacy is submitted. The rule, confirmed in the Figc statute approved by CONI in November 2024, is enforced through a preliminary verification by the Collegio di Garanzia of the Italian Olympic Committee.
CONI's statutes allow for a federation to be placed under administration — a process known as commissariamento — in cases of serious irregularity or violation of sporting regulations. The maximum duration of such an appointment is six months. Figc elections must be properly convened at least 60 days in advance, with candidacies submitted 40 days before the vote.
Government and Lega Serie A reactions
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, who had previously warned of potential government intervention if the sporting authorities failed to resolve the matter, welcomed the outcome. "I have always supported two principles: respect for the rules, for everyone, and the autonomy of sport, in observance of state regulations," Abodi said in a statement after the vote.
Lega Serie A, which had initially opposed any commissariamento of the Figc, shifted to backing the solution once Malagò was named commissioner. In a statement, the league described it as "the right solution" and noted that Malagò remained their preferred candidate. The league cited the need to press ahead with key priorities including Italy's co-hosting of Euro 2032 and ongoing legislative reforms under Senate consideration.
Historical context and remaining questions
The move marks the latest in a series of commissariamento episodes spanning nearly 130 years of Figc history. Previous commissioners include Guido Rossi, appointed in 2006 in the aftermath of the Calciopoli scandal, and Roberto Fabbricini in 2018 following Italy's failure to qualify for that year's World Cup.
CONI has also raised the possibility of reinstating Diana Bianchedi as head of delegation for the Italian national football team. Bianchedi, a former Olympic fencing champion and CONI vice president, resigned from the role on 1 October after Sports Minister Abodi publicly questioned her dual positions. Buonfiglio said he hoped she would reconsider, while Malà indicated the decision belonged to the next president, not the commissioner.
