Italian Football Federation election takes shape as Malago faces Galliani challenge

The Italian Football Federation has approved the candidacies of Giovanni Malago and Adriano Galliani for its presidential election, setting up a contest in which the distribution of support across Italian football could prove more important than the profiles of the two candidates.

The election will take place on 14 December, with Malago, 67, and Galliani, 82, now confirmed as the two candidates for the position after the federation accepted their applications on Saturday.

The contest reflects a clear divide among the groups that make up Italian football. According to the federation’s breakdown of the electoral support, Malago is backed by clubs in Serie A, while Galliani has support from players and coaches.

Malago’s position among top-flight clubs has, however, weakened significantly since the summer. He now has the backing of 11 of Serie A’s 20 clubs, compared with 19 clubs when he previously stood for the role.

He was elected federation president in June, but was later found not to be eligible to stand because he did not hold membership of the federation. The issue led the Italian Olympic Committee to consider placing the organisation under the control of a special commissioner.

The eventual decision was to appoint Malago himself as the federation’s special commissioner and call a fresh election to officially select a president. That process has now allowed him to return to the race.

How the voting system works

The election is based on 516 votes distributed among the different sectors of Italian football. Those votes do not carry equal weight, meaning the number of delegates supporting a candidate does not, on its own, determine their overall electoral strength.

Serie A clubs hold 18% of the vote through 20 delegates. Serie B also has 20 delegates but accounts for 6%, while Serie C holds 12% through 57 delegates.

The amateur league represents the largest share, with 34% of the vote and 99 delegates. Players account for 20% through 52 delegates, while coaches hold 10% through 26 delegates.

The campaign has also been marked by legal tensions over the nomination process and the validity of submitted documents. One of the main disputes involved Genoa, whose name was initially listed among Galliani’s supporters before the club withdrew that backing and declared its support for Malago.

That change prompted questions over whether Malago still met the minimum requirement for Serie A club endorsements. The Italian Football Federation’s decision to approve both applications has now cleared the way for the presidential election on 14 December.