Galliani gains union backing in FIGC election contest
Italy’s football federation is heading towards a contested presidential election, with players’ and coaches’ associations preparing to nominate Adriano Galliani as Giovanni Malagò closes in on sufficient backing from Serie A clubs.
Adriano Galliani is set to enter the race for the Italian Football Federation presidency with the support of the players’ and coaches’ associations, challenging current commissioner Giovanni Malagò at the December 14 election.The expected nomination would divide the coalition that previously supported Malagò, with the two associations together accounting for 30% of the electoral vote while Serie A clubs remain split between the prospective candidates.The move follows comments earlier this week from coaches’ association president Renzo Ulivieri, who said: “Our intention remains to stand alongside Serie A. We have a relationship with them and that is important to us. We will therefore wait for what they decide.”Instead, the coaches’ body AIAC and players’ association AIC are preparing to nominate Galliani independently of Serie A’s majority position, with the required nomination signatures reportedly already secured.Galliani, the former AC Milan chief executive and current Italian senator, had initially attracted support from a minority of top-flight clubs but had not assembled enough backing to secure the league’s nomination.Malagò is expected to announce that he has reached the 11-club threshold needed to stand through Serie A, ahead of the November 4 deadline for submitting candidacy documents.Ten clubs have reportedly signed in his support: Napoli, Roma, Bologna, Torino, Lecce, Monza, Frosinone, Genoa, Udinese and Fiorentina. Como is expected to provide the eleventh signature.The nomination threshold does not determine the election outcome, with Serie A accounting for 18% of the overall vote and its clubs divided over the leadership contest.Malagò had previously expressed confidence in his position, saying: “I am calling all the Serie A presidents one by one. I have already spoken to 13 and they all guarantee me their support.”The positions of the other leagues will now be central to both campaigns, particularly the National Amateur League, which holds 34% of the vote, the largest single share.Lega Pro carries 12% and Serie B 6%, giving the professional divisions below Serie A a potentially important role in building a winning coalition.Their presidents held discussions with Serie A president Ezio Simonelli but did not announce support for either candidate, having initially intended to await a clearer position from the top division.National Amateur League president Giancarlo Abete, who opposed Malagò at the previous election, is not expected to stand again, leaving his organisation’s backing a major unresolved question.Candidates must secure more than half the votes to win, making support beyond their nominating groups essential.The four league presidents are due to resume discussions on Friday, with the remaining days before nominations close likely to determine whether either contender can unite enough of Italian football’s competing interests to establish a clear advantage.