According to Calcio e Finanza, citing Tuttosport, the controversy surrounding FIGC president Giovanni Malagò's failure to register with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is escalating. The matter is expected to be discussed next Tuesday by the Italian National Olympic Committee, and in extreme circumstances, there is a theoretical possibility that the FIGC could be placed under temporary administration.

Earlier, Ugo Taucer, Sports Prosecutor of the Italian National Olympic Committee, rejected a closure request submitted by the FIGC Prosecutor's Office, led by Giuseppe Chinè—a decision that shifted Malagò's legal position.

After attending a previously scheduled Serie B league meeting, Malagò reiterated that he was not concerned: "I am calm." He also emphasized that there were "very clear precedents" on this matter.

At the heart of the controversy is Article 29 of the FIGC Statutes. According to this article, holding positions within the federation requires "compliance with registration requirements."

The FIGC's legal department and secretariat had previously interpreted this to mean that those holding positions within the FIGC do not necessarily need to have registered status. Rather, if a registration relationship exists, the individual must ensure their registration status complies with regulations.

This interpretation had also been applied in other proceedings in the past and became an important basis for Malagò's defense.

However, following an appeal filed by Renato Miele, the matter has returned to the spotlight. Miele had previously attempted to run as a third candidate in the FIGC presidential election. Taucer has now requested a further investigation by the FIGC Prosecutor's Office and has referred relevant materials to Luciano Buonfiglio, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, for consideration.

Therefore, the matter could be on the agenda for discussion by the Italian National Olympic Committee next Tuesday, though it remains uncertain whether the committee will vote immediately.

If the Italian National Olympic Committee ultimately determines that Malagò's eligibility confirmation to run for FIGC president constitutes "serious irregularities in the federation's functioning," it could theoretically pave the way for the FIGC to be placed under temporary administration.

However, the report emphasizes that this remains only a potential extreme scenario and does not mean the Italian National Olympic Committee has already decided to take this action. If administrative proceedings are initiated, Buonfiglio himself is also considered a possible candidate to temporarily manage the FIGC.

Buonfiglio was cautious on the matter, stating: "I never thought this issue would actually reach a formal proceeding. Taking this seriously is not a right, but a responsibility."

If the Italian National Olympic Committee ultimately takes action against the FIGC, Malagò is prepared to defend his position through an appeal process. Conversely, if the Italian National Olympic Committee decides not to act, it could further intensify the institutional controversy, as it is also subject to oversight by relevant authorities.

Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi stated: "Everyone knows the rules clearly." He also described himself as "an observer who respects procedures, but is very concerned about this."

From a legal perspective, the registration requirement does not appear to have been considered an absolute obstacle to running for the FIGC presidency in the past, and the FIGC also has certain institutional specificities compared to other sports associations.

The report also references the situation when Gabriele Gravina was first elected FIGC president. At that time, Gravina was president of the Serie C league, and according to Article 10 of the FIGC's internal organizational regulations, his status was considered equivalent to that of a registered person. This precedent further complicates the legal interpretation of the relevant provisions.

Additionally, this matter also involves the relationship between football and politics. When asked if political forces were behind the incident, Malagò made no direct accusations but stated: "For months now, some people have been trying to pursue a different path than the electoral consensus mechanism."

Traducido por IA.

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