ANAC clears Diana Bianchedi of conflict of interest ahead of CONI vote on FIGC receivership

Anticorruption authority archives dual role review

Italy's National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC) closed its inquiry into Diana Bianchedi on 2 October 2026, ruling that her role as head of delegation for the national football team was legally compatible with her position as senior vice president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI). In a formal communication issued by ANAC President Giuseppe Busia, the authority established that the dual positions did not breach Articles 4 and 9 of Legislative Decree 39 of 2013 regarding public and regulated private entities. CONI had originally sought an assessment on 9 August 2026 to determine whether her federational appointment presented ineligibility or incompatibility issues for its national board. Following Bianchedi's subsequent resignation from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), the anticorruption council formally resolved to archive the matter.

Resignation prompted by political dispute

Bianchedi resigned from her FIGC position following public criticism from Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi regarding her prior vote inside the CONI Giunta. FIGC President Giovanni Malagò dismissed the minister's critique as ungrammatical while maintaining that the federation position was strictly a representative assignment without executive powers. Bianchedi, a two-time Olympic gold medallist in fencing, announced her departure to prevent administrative controversies from escalating across the sporting landscape.

Following the statements made by the Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, and the controversies that arose in the press this afternoon, I submit my resignation as Head of Delegation of the National Team. I have always acted with correctness and seriousness, in compliance with the rules and people, for the good of sport: values that are now being unfairly questioned.

Ethics oversight assigned to Olympic committee

Although ANAC established that no statutory incompatibility occurred under national decree standards, it noted that monitoring potential conflicts of interest remains the responsibility of sporting administrations. The authority explained that it possesses no statutory intervention or sanctioning powers for internal conflicts within sports bodies, leaving CONI to oversee its own voting procedures. The legal opinion reiterated that administrative bodies retain full competence to prevent, monitor, and address potential conflicts among their voting members during executive ballots. FIGC officials welcomed the anticorruption determination as validation that Bianchedi retains full standing to participate in upcoming executive proceedings.

Giunta prepares for federation vote

The conclusion clears administrative hurdles before the CONI Giunta convenes on 6 October 2026 to vote on whether to place the FIGC under emergency receivership. The ballot follows institutional friction surrounding potential irregularities reported in connection with Malagò's leadership candidacy. Opposing factions within the Olympic committee held conflicting viewpoints regarding her voting eligibility prior to the release of the anticorruption findings. Because Bianchedi resigned from the federation without having active operational tenure, she enters the Tuesday meeting strictly as CONI vice president. Busia transmitted the final decision to CONI President Luciano Bonfiglio and Malagò as both organizations finalize preparations for the assembly.