Rivera: ‘I didn’t agree when Italy called Malagò, even less when Mancini came back’
FLORENCE, ITALY - FEBRUARY 03: Gianni Rivera of Figc during the "Panchina D'Oro Prize" award at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on February 3, 2020 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Milan and Italy legend Gianni Rivera says that he did not agree with the decision to elect Giovanni Malagò as President of the FIGC and says that he was ‘even less’ convinced when Roberto Mancini was brought back as head coach of the Italy national team: ‘I’ve always been in favour of a commissioner’.
Rivera criticises Malagò and Italy decision to re-appoint Mancini
Rivera was among the guests speaking at the Festival dello Sport event in Trento on Friday, sharing his thoughts on the Italian FA, the decision to re-appoint Mancini, his recent snub from Milan and his memories of the late, great Sandro Mazzola.
The FIGC is currently in chaos just a few months after Malagò was appointed as its new President. He is facing the increasingly likely prospect that he will have to step down on the technicality that he was not a formally-registered member of the Italian FA at the time of the Presidential election.
Diana Bianchedi, whom Malagò appointed as the new delegation chief for the Italy national team, resigned on Thursday.
If Malagò is forced to walk away from his position, potentially as early as next week, then the FIGC will most likely be placed under the control of a special commissioner before a new Presidential election takes place.
Rivera had originally put himself forward as a candidate for the FIGC Presidency before Malagò won the election in June, and says that he agrees with the move to place the Italian association under the control of a special commissioner.
He also says that it was not the right call to bring back Roberto Mancini for a second spell in charge of the Italy national team.
“I believe that the federation will soon be placed under a commissioner, and if that happens, I am available. Let’s see if they remember Rivera this time.
“I’ve always been in favour of a commissioner. I didn’t agree when they chose Malagò and even less when they called Mancini back. He got angry about what I said and asked me to explain why I said those things. He knows now.”
Rivera also has a grudge with his former club Milan, who did not invite him to be part of the on-pitch celebrations for the club’s 125th anniversary back in 2024.
“When Paolo Maldini was in charge, he called me to tell me that there would always be a place for me in San Siro whenever I wanted. Then after he left they stopped inviting me and they forgot about me for the 125th anniversary celebration.”
Rivera was also able to pay tribute to his long-term Italy teammate and rival at club level, Mazzola, who died at the age of 83 in September.
“He and I wrote the history of football in Milan for many years. We could have played together, not just replacing one another.
“Sandro would be very happy if Lautaro Martinez won the Ballon d’Or. I won one of those, the first Italian ever.”
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