CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio insists ‘the autonomy of sport was safeguarded and we showed rules must be respected’ after Giovanni Malagò was appointed special commissioner of the FIGC to replace himself. ‘He has the perfect CV.’
The bizarre scenario unfolded because Malagò won the landslide election in June to be President of the Italian Football Federation, but was not a registered member, so should not have been a valid candidate.
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With the inevitability that the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) that oversees all Italian sport would need to declare the election void and appoint a special commissioner, they resolved the issue by simply giving the job to Malagò, who effectively took over from himself in a new role.
Buonfiglio stands up for Malagò saga
Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi, FIGC President Giovanni Malago and CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio
“I don’t let myself be influenced by anyone, but the important thing was to safeguard the autonomy of sport and show that rules must be respected,” declared Buonfiglio to reporters including Sky Sport Italia.
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“With this decision, we reiterated the concept that rules must be respected, that the vote was unanimous and the CONI President took the responsibility of nominating a special commissioner.
“In my view, Malagò was the victim of a malfunction, so why should he be the one to pay for that? So I told him that he would be the special commissioner, because he has a perfect CV, we are getting back on track with the Nazionale, so he can continue his work for the next 90 days.”
Malagò has already declared that the new election for FIGC President is scheduled for December 14, and he is widely expected to win, this time with the correct paperwork.
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – JUNE 24: Diana Bianchedi, Manager of the National Olympic Committee looks on during IOC Announcement at SwissTech Convention Center on June 24, 2019 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by Robert Hradil/Getty Images)
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With this chaotic matter resolved, it is also hoped that the FIGC can walk back some of the effects of that tension, including the resignation of Diana Bianchedi as delegation chief for the Italy team.
She resigned after public criticism from Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi over her conflict of interest, being both a member of the CONI as vice president, and working with Malagò in the FIGC set-up.
“I hope that her resignation will be rejected. I already told Commissioner Malagò that it is his job now to bring Bianchedi back,” added Buonfiglio.
Abodi had suggested Bianchedi voting with the FIGC would ruin her rapport of ‘trust’ with the CONI, something that CONI President Buonfiglio rejects.
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“Trust is something else, after all, having different opinions is one of the principles of democracy. The important thing is to reach a unanimous conclusion, which we did today.”
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – MARCH 5: Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, speaks during the mural inauguration ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at the Cortina Paralympic Village on March 05, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images for IPC)
The entire saga has been very Italian, in that it took a loophole to cancel out a different loophole, something that Buonfiglio recognises.
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“If this sort of thing had happened in another Federation, it would’ve been resolved in 60 days. Some even sent Mafia-style messages, but I will not be influenced by anyone, including squalid attacks towards my family. It’s nobody’s fault if a son does better than his father.”
This is because there were accusations of potential conflict of interest in the fact Buonfiglio’s son works for a company managing Serie A side Venezia’s marketing and new stadium project.
“You can describe it any way you want, but the system did not work, the sporting justice system wasted too much time, and the rules were not respected originally,” concluded the CONI chief.
You can view the original article HERE.
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