After the pressure from Matteo Salvini, i.e. from the League, to ask for the resignation of the president of the FIGC, Gabriele Gravina, because “the leadership must be revolutionized”, here is the new front: exponents of FdI are pushing for the “commissioning of the federation” by the Coni by Giovanni Malagò in light of the “inefficiencies” of the football system. FI’s statement was softer, according to which football has highlighted “problems, but only FIGC members must make the appropriate assessments”.
The day after the bitter defeat at Wembley by Luciano Spalletti’s national team, politics went on the attack. The nuances are different, but in fact the government majority puts the FIGC summit in its sights, so much so that the number one of the CONI, Giovanni Malagò, intervenes to protect the autonomy of his world: «It is important that politics deals with sport, there is a great need, but it doesn’t mean that it should take up sport.”
Fresh from two failed World Cup qualifiers and dealing with a new football betting world, the latest political offensive on football does not come at a random time. There are those who suspect that it is intertwined with another crucial dossier for Italian sport, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina which sees the League in difficulty: in short, the aim would be to overthrow the head of the FIGC to also put the the top of the Coni. «Between betting, doping, sporting failures, infrastructural and television problems, economic crises, what still needs to happen to revolutionize the leadership of the movement?», writes the League before asking Gravina to step back, an act «necessary, out of respect for millions of enthusiasts”.
For FdI, however, the head of sport of Giorgia Meloni’s party, senator Paolo Marcheschi, who at the end of 2015 challenged Gravina by losing the elections to become president of the Lega Pro, speaks of “commissioning”. But “this is a position of the League and of other parliamentarians – comments the Minister of Sport, Andrea Abodi, from the FdI area -. I respect the position of others, even more so than partners.” And the Democratic Party counterattacks by highlighting the difference of views within the majority: «There is a clear political clash underway between Abodi and the forces of his majority», says the dem deputy Andrea Rossi. While Action speaks of “an unacceptable invasion of the field” and Pier Ferdinando Casini defines the move of Salvini’s party as “incredible”: “Did the deputy prime minister speak on behalf of the government?”.
In defense of Gravina
Certainly, however, the world of sport is rallying around Gravina to try to undermine the encirclement maneuver started by the government. Apart from the Leagues of A and B, which are silent, 83 percent of the Federal Council sides with the FIGC president. “This risks taking Italy out of UEFA and FIFA, which do not tolerate political interference,” says the president of the Coaching Association, Renzo Ulivieri. Umberto Calcagno, president of the footballers’ union, speaks of “instrumental attacks”. «This is not the time for divisions and catastrophism», comments the president of the Lega Pro, Matteo Marani. Giancarlo Abete, head of the Amateur League, also intervenes to say that the FIGC is “well managed”. Gravina’s mandate expires in 2024 and there are already those thinking of Abodi as his successor. But there a new front can be opened, and this time entirely within the majority.
2023-10-18 21:33:45
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