Serie A clubs have overwhelmingly backed former CONI president Giovanni Malagò as their preferred FIGC president, with 18 of 20 clubs voting in his favour. Inter CEO Beppe Marotta framed Malagò as the “interpreter” needed to bridge Italian football and politics after Gabriele Gravina’s exit, setting up a showdown with Francesco Abete and the LND over control of the federation’s future.
Serie A unites behind Malagò as FIGC candidate
Eighteen of 20 Serie A clubs formally supported Giovanni Malagò as their candidate to lead the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), a near-unanimous show of force from the top tier. The endorsement comes as the federation seeks new leadership following Gabriele Gravina’s resignation in the wake of Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup tournament.
Beppe Marotta: Malagò as the needed "interpreter"
Inter CEO Beppe Marotta publicly defended the choice, arguing Serie A needs a leader who can navigate sport and politics. Marotta called Malagò a sporting manager with deep institutional experience — someone who can translate clubs’ priorities into workable reforms for the Nazionale and the domestic system. “Our sport is an ill patient that needs treatment,” he said, framing the candidacy as a pragmatic remedy.
Why the Serie A pitch matters
A united Serie A endorsement sends a clear message: the top-flight clubs want to reclaim greater influence over Italian football’s direction. That influence touches finance, calendar reform, youth development and the competitive pipeline from Serie A to national teams. Malagò’s CONI background gives him institutional gravitas and political connections that clubs see as useful in negotiating with government and other federative bodies.
Political and institutional opposition: Abete and the LND
Not everyone is aligned with Serie A’s choice. Francesco Abete has backing from the LND (Lega Nazionale Dilettanti), which controls roughly 34% of the FIGC vote through amateur football representation. The current government reportedly leans toward Abete, setting up a clear tug-of-war between professional clubs and the broader football pyramid.
Where the real power lies
FIGC elections are not decided by Serie A alone. The federation’s governance structure allocates weight to professional leagues, Serie B and C, the amateur sector and youth organizations. That means Malagò’s success depends on persuading or negotiating with a wide array of stakeholders beyond the elite clubs — a task that will test his claimed strengths as an “interpreter.”
What this means for Italian football
If Malagò wins, expect faster moves to elevate Serie A’s role in national strategy: greater emphasis on financial stability, youth development aligned with elite clubs, and stronger lobbying with political institutions.
If Abete or a coalition centered on the LND prevails, priorities may tilt toward grassroots and amateur concerns, potentially slowing professional-led reforms. Either outcome will shape the Nazionale’s ecosystem and Italy’s approach to future international qualification campaigns.
Next steps and likely scenarios
The immediate phase is negotiation and coalition-building across FIGC constituencies.
Malagò’s advantage is institutional experience and the public backing of Serie A; his vulnerability is the federation’s voting arithmetic and grassroots resistance.
Expect intense behind-the-scenes diplomacy in the coming weeks as candidates court Serie B, Serie C, youth and amateur delegates.
Report Allegri first choice for Italy if Malagò wins election
Practical governance and unity — not rhetoric — will determine whether the next FIGC president can deliver the reforms Italian football urgently needs.
Yahoo! News
