Overview
- CONI’s executive committee voted unanimously to place the Italian Football Federation under special administration and proposed Giovanni Malagò as emergency commissioner, a move approved by the Giunta on Tuesday and now awaiting ratification by CONI’s National Council.
- The action follows legal findings that Malagò was not a registered FIGC member when he won the federation’s June 22 election with 68.58% of the vote, a technical irregularity that called the ballot’s validity into question.
- The appointment is a negotiated compromise after a last-minute meeting between CONI president Luciano Buonfiglio and Malagò, with Buonfiglio dropping plans to take the commissioner role himself because Serie A and parts of the Giunta backed Malagò.
- Malagò will run day-to-day operations as commissioner and is expected to call fresh elections within roughly three months, with reports saying a vote could be held by January 31 and Malagò allowed to stand once he regularises his FIGC membership.
- The governance shift raises immediate practical concerns for Italy’s co-hosting of Euro 2032, since the FIGC has submitted 14 candidate stadiums but only Juventus’ Allianz Stadium is currently ready, and UEFA has warned against signs of political interference.