Official: Malagò and Galliani admitted as candidates for FIGC election

Flags are seen at half mast at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) building as a sign of respect for late soccer player Paolo Rossi in Rome, Italy, 10 December 2020. Paolo Rossi died aged 64 on 09 December 2020. As part of FIFA's 100th anniversary, in 2004 Rossi was named as one of the Top 125 greatest living footballers. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO PERI

Both Giovanni Malagò and Adriano Galliani have been admitted as candidates to run for the FIGC Presidency, the Italian Football Federation confirmed on Saturday.

Malagò, 67, and Galliani, 82, will run in the FIGC Presidential election on December 14. FIGC confirmed on Saturday that it has accepted applications submitted by both candidates.

Malagò and Galliani to run for FIGC Presidency

The Italian Federation adds that Malagò is backed by Serie A clubs, while Galliani has the support of players and coaches.

Malagò was elected FIGC President this past June, but it later emerged that he didn’t have the right to run for the role because he lacked FIGC membership.

Because of this, the Olympic Italian Committee considered placing the FIGC under a special commissioner, but in the end, it was Malagò himself who was named to the role, with a call for new elections.

Meanwhile, Malagò has lost support from some Serie A clubs, as only 11 backed the 67-year-old as the league’s candidate for FIGC Presidency, down from 19 out of 20 last summer.

The FIGC Presidential election is based on 516 votes, but not all carry equal weight. Each component participating in the vote carries a different weight, depending on its relevance within the Italian football ecosystem.