The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has experienced a bizarre administrative incident after Giovanni Malagò lost his position as president due to a legal infraction, only to return on the exact same day as an extraordinary commissioner.
Malagò was elected president of the federation on June 22 after securing 68.58% of the vote, defeating his rival Giancarlo Abete.
However, investigations revealed that Malagò was not properly registered within the federation’s system at the time of submitting his candidacy, despite regulations stipulating that candidates must fulfill this requirement prior to contesting the election.
The Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) placed the football federation under extraordinary administration, effectively terminating Malagò’s elected presidency and invalidating the board in its current form.
The surprise came when CONI selected Malagò himself as extraordinary commissioner to run the federation, replacing himself with a different title and temporary powers.
The decision was made unanimously following an agreement between Malagò and Luciano Bonfiglio, President of CONI, aiming to prevent a prolonged administrative battle that could jeopardize Italian football’s stability or preparations for hosting Euro 2032.
Malagò will continue managing the federation’s affairs on a temporary basis, with new elections scheduled to take place by January 31, 2027, at the latest to elect a legitimate president. The crisis thus concludes with a paradoxical legal solution: removing the president over regulatory compliance, then appointing him to lead the very same organization.
