The FIGC, the Italian Football Association, ushered in a new president, Giovanni Malagò, not too long ago, but a new election is coming due to a clerical mistake, and while it was believed he would be easily confirmed, veteran executive Adriano Galliani has thrown his hat in the ring, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.

The current head formally lost his position because of a bureaucratic error after an appeal, but the Italian Olympic Committee, the body he used to helm and that oversees these matters, quickly named him commissioner until the next vote on December 14^th.

Malagò routed Giancarlo Abete the last time out, but Galliani has decided to enter the fray. He has formally earned the support of the coaches and the players, who count for 30 percent of the voters. Serie A is torn. The other three divisions, Serie B, C, and the amateur, will be decisive, as they combine for 52 percent.

It’s not been smooth sailing for FIGC in recent months. Many clubs supported Paolo Maldini’s vision for the Azzurri. Instead, he and Leonardo resigned after the president deemed the hiring of Andrea Pirlo inappropriate due to his ties to a Russian betting company and stomped his authority to bring back Roberto Mancini, pairing him up with Claudio Ranieri in a managerial role.

Our Take on the FIGC, Malagò and Galliani

It’s a pretty ridiculous turn of events, as the former had to relinquish his role for something minor, and at least in part because of a feud with his successor at CONI, but stayed in charge because he still had enough pull in other sports. The Maldini affair surely wasn’t a good look. Both are seasoned politicians, but the latter has more football expertise.

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