Lotito Explains Need for Special Commissioner for FIGC President

Not all 20 Serie A clubs support Giovanni Malagò as the candidate for the new FIGC President. Lazio owner Claudio Lotito insists that a "total restructuring of the system" is necessary.

The crisis in Italian football, highlighted by the failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, led to the resignation of Federation President Gabriele Gravina. The search is now on for a new leader who can subsequently appoint the next Italy coach for the EURO 2028 and Nations League campaigns, set to begin in September.

Lotito Resists Serie A Majority on FIGC

During a Lega Serie A meeting in Milan, 18 out of 20 clubs backed former CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) President Malagò. However, Lazio and Hellas Verona abstained from voting.

"The issue with Malagò isn't the individual; that's irrelevant," stated Lazio President Lotito to reporters outside the meeting. "If something isn't functioning, it requires restructuring, doesn't it? This system was built on a law established 45 years ago, so as long as that law and that system remains..."

"We need to redesign everything from the ground up, which means we need to appoint a special commissioner."

This move would effectively place the FIGC under receivership, granting the appointed individual the authority to implement significant changes without needing majority approval. Coincidentally, Malagò has previously held such a role. In 2018, when the FIGC and Lega Serie A struggled to elect new leaders, he served as special commissioner from February to May of that year until replacements were successfully chosen.

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Not all 20 Serie A clubs are in favor of Giovanni Malagò as the nominee for the new FIGC President, as Lazio owner Claudio Lotito asserts that "a complete overhaul of the system is required."

The current turmoil in Italian football, which reached a critical point with the team's inability to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, resulted in the resignation of Federation President Gabriele Gravina. The process of finding a new president is underway, who will then be responsible for selecting the next national team coach to lead Italy in the EURO 2028 and Nations League competitions commencing in September.

Lotito Opposes Serie A Majority's Choice for FIGC

At a recent Lega Serie A assembly in Milan, 18 of the 20 clubs endorsed former CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) President Malagò, but Lazio and Hellas Verona opted to abstain.

"The problem isn't Malagò's name; that's beside the point," Lotito, the Lazio President, told journalists after the meeting. "If something is broken, it needs to be rebuilt. This framework is based on legislation enacted 45 years ago, so as long as that law and that structure persist..."

"We must re-engineer everything from the foundation upwards, which necessitates the appointment of a special commissioner."

This would essentially place the FIGC under administrative control, empowering the appointed individual to enact drastic reforms without the need for broad consensus. Notably, Malagò has occupied a similar position before. In 2018, when the FIGC and Lega Serie A were unable to agree on new leadership, he acted as special commissioner from February to May, overseeing the election of successors.