Lotito explains why he wants special commissioner for FIGC President

Lotito explains why he wants special commissioner for FIGC President

Not all 20 Serie A clubs back Giovanni Malagò as candidate for new FIGC President, as Lazio owner Claudio Lotito insists ‘we need a total restructuring of the system.’

The crisis in Italian football that culminated in the failure to qualify for a third consecutive edition of the World Cup prompted the resignation of Federation President Gabriele Gravina.

Now the search is on for a new chief who can in turn pick the next Italy coach to begin the EURO 2028 and Nations League campaigns in September.

Lotito resists Serie A majority on FIGC

Lazio President Claudio Lotito (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Today’s Lega Serie A meeting in Milan saw 18 of the 20 clubs back former CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) President Malagò, but Lazio and Hellas Verona abstained.

“The problem with Malagò is not the name, that is irrelevant,” insisted Lazio President Lotito when speaking to reporters outside the meeting.

“If something isn’t working, it has to be restructured, right? This system was built on a law set in stone 45 years ago, so as long as that law and that system is in place…

“We need to redesign everything from top to bottom, which means we need to nominate a special commissioner.”

epa11068012 Lazio�s president Claudio Lotito celebrates after winning the Coppa Italia quarter final soccer match between SS Lazio and AS Roma, in Rome, Italy, 10 January 2024. EPA-EFE/FABIO FRUSTACI

This would effectively place the FIGC under receivership, giving that person the power to make decisions on radical changes without requiring a majority support.

Curiously, this is a role that Malagò has held before, when in 2018 the FIGC and Lega Serie A were unable to agree on electing new leaders.

He remained as special commissioner from February to May 2018, by which point they had managed to elect replacements.