Galliani appeals Malagò's commission as FIGC presidency race turns to court

The appeal against the commission

Adriano Galliani, a senator of Forza Italia and former managing director of Milan, filed an appeal on the evening of 9 November with the Tribunale Federale Nazionale (TFN) against a commission that Giovanni Malagò set up on 2 November. The commission reviews candidacies for the FIGC presidency and is coordinated by General Parrinello. Galliani argues that verifying candidacies belongs to the federation's secretary general, Marco Brunelli, that the rules do not provide for such a body, and that Malagò, who is himself a candidate, had no standing to appoint its members. The federation said on 10 November that it will join the proceedings and oppose the appeal.

The Genoa signature at the centre

The dispute turns on Genoa's double signature. Genoa first endorsed Galliani and attached that endorsement to his candidacy file, then withdrew it through a certified email (PEC) and backed Malagò instead. Malagò's candidacy relies on that second signature: without Genoa he would have 10 Serie A club signatures rather than 11, which would leave him without the Serie A majority needed to stand. Galliani's appeal asks that the Genoa endorsement for Malagò be declared void. According to one account, both Genoa officials involved had signing authority, so no substantial breach occurred, although the commission would still examine the point. Federal sources say the commission does not replace Brunelli, who remains the only official with power to verify candidacies.

Deadlines and the 14 December vote

The TFN is due to rule on the appeal on Friday, 13 November, in a collegiate session. Candidacies must be published by 14 November, and Brunelli has until Saturday, 14 November, to sign the document that validates or rejects them. The federation argues that the commission only gathers documents, so Brunelli can proceed regardless of the TFN decision. Galliani may challenge the Genoa signature only after his own candidacy is validated, and within seven days of that validation. If he takes that route through the TFN, the appeals body and the Collegio di Garanzia, the process would run into the 14 December election, making a postponement unavoidable.

Lega B, the Serie B clubs' league, reaffirmed its June position at an assembly in Turin on 10 November. It presented a document listing the main reform points to be put to the candidates in a meeting.

Support shifts and Mancini's comment

The players' association AIC and the coaches' association AIAC withdrew their backing for Malagò and sided with Galliani, after supporting Malagò in June. Serie A clubs remain with Malagò, though with less backing than before. On the Serie A side, Galliani has the support of Inter, Atalanta and Como alongside Genoa. National team coach Roberto Mancini, whom Malagò chose for the post, criticised the switch while speaking at Coverciano, where the squad gathered to prepare for Nations League matches.

“It does not embarrass me, but they certainly do not look good.”

Italy play France at Milan's Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Thursday, 12 November, in front of more than 62,000 people, and face Belgium in Brussels on Sunday, 15 November.

A separate dispute at the referees' association

A separate dispute at the referees' association (AIA) concerns the recent election of its president, Francesco Massini, which has been contested. The federal election process and the referees' case are running in parallel with the presidential contest, adding to the tensions inside the federation.