Buonfiglio Malagò has perfect CV to be FIGC Special Commissioner, Says CONI Chief

FolioPitch.com – 06 October 2026 | In a stunning turn of events that has captivated Italian football, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio has declared that Buonfiglio Malagò has perfect CV to be FIGC Special Commissioner, defending the controversial appointment of Giovanni Malagò as the special commissioner of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). The decision comes after a bizarre saga in which Malagò won the FIGC presidential election in June but was later found to be ineligible due to not being a registered member.

The appointment, which effectively sees Malagò take over from himself in a new role, has raised eyebrows across the sporting world. However, Buonfiglio remains steadfast in his support, insisting that the move was necessary to uphold the rules and safeguard the autonomy of sport. “I don’t let myself be influenced by anyone, but the important thing was to safeguard the autonomy of sport and show that rules must be respected,” Buonfiglio told reporters, including Sky Sport Italia. “With this decision, we reiterated the concept that rules must be respected, that the vote was unanimous and the CONI President took the responsibility of nominating a special commissioner.”

Buonfiglio further explained that Malagò was a victim of a malfunction in the system, and thus should not be the one to pay for it. “In my view, Malagò was the victim of a malfunction, so why should he be the one to pay for that? So I told him that he would be the special commissioner, because he has a perfect CV, we are getting back on track with the Nazionale, so he can continue his work for the next 90 days.” This reiteration that Buonfiglio Malagò has perfect CV to be FIGC Special Commissioner underscores the CONI chief’s confidence in Malagò’s abilities.

Malagò has already announced that a new election for FIGC President is scheduled for December 14, and he is widely expected to win, this time with the correct paperwork. The chaos surrounding the election and subsequent appointment has been described as “very Italian,” with one loophole cancelling out another. Buonfiglio acknowledged the peculiarity of the situation but emphasized that the priority was to resolve the matter and move forward.

The saga has also had repercussions beyond the FIGC presidency. Diana Bianchedi, the delegation chief for the Italy team, resigned after public criticism from Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi over her dual roles as CONI vice president and a member of the FIGC set-up. Buonfiglio expressed hope that her resignation would be rejected and urged Malagò to bring her back. “I hope that her resignation will be rejected. I already told Commissioner Malagò that it is his job now to bring Bianchedi back,” he said.

Abodi had suggested that Bianchedi’s involvement with the FIGC would ruin her rapport of ‘trust’ with CONI, a notion that Buonfiglio rejects. “Trust is something else, after all, having different opinions is one of the principles of democracy. The important thing is to reach a unanimous conclusion, which we did today.”

The entire episode has been marked by accusations of conflict of interest, including claims that Buonfiglio’s son works for a company managing Serie A side Venezia’s marketing and new stadium project. Buonfiglio dismissed these attacks as “squalid” and maintained that he would not be influenced by anyone. “If this sort of thing had happened in another Federation, it would’ve been resolved in 60 days. Some even sent Mafia-style messages, but I will not be influenced by anyone, including squalid attacks towards my family. It’s nobody’s fault if a son does better than his father.”

Despite the turmoil, Buonfiglio remains focused on the future and the need for the sporting justice system to function efficiently. “You can describe it any way you want, but the system did not work, the sporting justice system wasted too much time, and the rules were not respected originally,” he concluded. The appointment of Malagò as special commissioner, with his “perfect CV,” is seen as a step towards restoring order and ensuring that Italian football can move forward without further disruption.

In conclusion, the appointment of Giovanni Malagò as FIGC Special Commissioner, backed by Luciano Buonfiglio’s assertion that Buonfiglio Malagò has perfect CV to be FIGC Special Commissioner, has brought a temporary resolution to a complex and controversial situation. While questions remain about the propriety of the process, the focus now shifts to the December election and the hope that Italian football can regain stability and continue its proud tradition on the international stage.