Giovanni Malagò is the former four-term president of CONI (Italian Olympic Committee, 2013-2025) and an IOC member. He entered the FIGC presidential race after Gabriele Gravina resigned in April 2026, with the backing of 18 of 20 Serie A clubs plus the players' and coaches' associations.Source: Lowdown 2026 FIFA World Cup Updates 7-8

Who is competing against Malagò for the FIGC job?

Paolo Maldini (pushed by Sports Minister Abodi), Alessandro Del Piero, and Demetrio Albertini are all discussed as rivals. No former player has ever led the FIGC.Source: La Stampa / media

What is a commissioner bypass option in Italian football?

If no candidate reaches the required threshold in the FIGC vote, a commissioner can be appointed to run the federation until a candidate wins a majority. Malagò is positioned as the compromise option.Source: background

Background

Giovanni Malagò (Born 13 March 1959, Rome) served as president of CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) from 2013 to 2025, completing four consecutive terms. He led the organising committee for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since January 2019. His professional background spans sports management and tourism. He is regarded as Italy's most influential sports administrator of the past decade, with cross-party political access and strong ties to the professional game.

Malagò entered the FIGC presidential race as the frontrunner following Gabriele Gravina's resignation on 2 April 2026. By 20 April, Serie A's 18 of 20 clubs had formally backed him. The AIC (players, 20%) and AIAC (coaches, 10%) endorsed him after mid-April meetings, bringing his confirmed bloc to 48%.

On 6 May he met Lega B president Paolo Bedin; on 8 May he held a videoconference with Lega Pro president Matteo Marani. Neither made a formal declaration, but Bedin signalled support 'within the week'. On 10 May, Malagò told LaPresse he is 'getting ready' to file his candidacy. The 13 May declaration Deadline falls on 11 May's tomorrow. If Lega B (6%) and Lega Pro (12%) align, Malagò reaches 66% before any vote is cast.

Malagò entered the FIGC presidential race as the frontrunner following Gabriele Gravina's resignation on 2 April 2026. By 20 April, Serie A's 18 of 20 clubs had formally backed him. The AIC (players, 20%) and AIAC (coaches, 10%) endorsed him after mid-April meetings, bringing his confirmed bloc to 48%. He and rival Giancarlo Abete formally filed candidacies on 14 May 2026 with the declaration deadline.

On 4 June, Sports Minister Andrea Abodi sent a formal challenge to ANAC and CONI's Collegio di Garanzia, citing the three-year pantouflage cooling-off rule: Malagò Left the CONI presidency in June 2025, one year before the vote, not three. CONI ruled on 12 June that the question fell outside its jurisdiction, leaving ANAC as the sole arbiter. ANAC missed its own 15 June Deadline without ruling. On 18 June, ANAC cleared Malagò, finding no breach of the pantouflage rule; the eligibility challenge is closed. The 22 June FIGC presidential election now proceeds as a clean two-horse race between Malagò and Abete.