Giovanni Malagò defends FIGC presidency against CONI administration threats

Speech at Fenix festival

Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malagò defended his election during an appearance at the Fenix youth festival in Rome on 19 September 2026. Speaking during a panel titled "A generation without a World Cup", organised by the Fratelli d'Italia youth movement Gioventù Nazionale, Malagò addressed threats that the football federation could be placed under external administration. Malagò argued that the scrutiny surrounding his position is driven by personal and political hostility rather than legitimate administrative faults. He cited his long track record in Italian sports governance, including twelve years as president of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and his position as an individual member of the International Olympic Committee. Malagò also noted his competitive sports history as the only federation president to have won a national five-a-side football tournament. During the event, Malagò referenced Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and her past remarks on democratic mandates.

“I have always respected Giorgia Meloni and I always appreciated her when she did not have this level of consensus. She always said to let the people decide what they want. So I say: is it right that a person elected with nearly 70% has these kinds of problems?”

The registration dispute and CONI scrutiny

The administrative challenge focuses on Malagò's lack of a valid federation membership card when he registered his candidacy for the FIGC presidency. FIGC general secretary Marco Brunelli initially cleared the paperwork, allowing Malagò to contest and win the presidential election with almost 70% backing. The general prosecutor of sport at CONI, Ugo Taucer, subsequently determined that federal membership is a required qualification under the statutes, while archiving the disciplinary inquiry and asking CONI to verify statutory compliance. Following that assessment, CONI president Luciano Buonfiglio examined placing the football federation under external administration. Malagò recalled that he had been asked to run five to six days after the Paralympic closing ceremony, initially declining before accepting the candidacy. He described the adversarial stance taken by Buonfiglio, whom he had previously supported for the CONI presidency, as surprising to observers across the sports sector.

“Today I am under attack. From what? For an electoral procedure of which I am not only not guilty, but I am a victim.”

Minister Abodi urges institutional resolution

Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi attended the festival panel via video link and responded directly to Malagò's remarks. Abodi acknowledged that Malagò was guided throughout the candidacy procedure, acted in good faith, and carries no direct personal responsibility for the procedural dispute. However, the minister stressed that established regulations must be enforced across all sporting bodies to preserve institutional credibility. Abodi expressed his desire to avoid government intervention in internal sports matters, stating that decisions should be made autonomously within the sports justice system. He cautioned against politicizing the dispute while CONI reviews whether statutory standards were observed during the electoral process.

“There are rules that must be respected, which apply to everyone. The credibility of sport also depends on the observance of rules that apply to everyone.”