FIGC elective assembly and the election of Italy's football president

The assembly defined

The Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, or FIGC, is the national federation that governs football in Italy. It runs the national teams, issues licences to clubs, oversees refereeing through its referees' association, and sets the rules that every competition in the country, Serie A included, must follow. The general assembly is the federation's highest decision-making body. When it meets to vote for a president and federal council, it is called an elective assembly.

The assembly is not a meeting of clubs or of the general public. It brings together delegates from the federation's member bodies. These are the professional leagues (Serie A, Serie B and Lega Pro), the amateur National Amateur League, the players' association, the coaches' association and the referees' association. Each group takes part with a set voting weight, and the federation's statute decides how big that weight is.

Football Italia reports that a meeting of this assembly has been called for 14 December and that Malagò, known for his long time as president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, is expected to take the top job. The source describes this as Malagò regaining the presidency. The full list of candidates, the formal timetable and the reasons the meeting was called have not been confirmed here.

Origins of the federation's governance

The FIGC dates from the late nineteenth century. Its governance has changed many times since then, but one feature has lasted: it is a national sports federation inside the Olympic system. It is recognised by CONI, the Italian National Olympic Committee, and its statute must fit the principles CONI sets for all federations. This explains why a figure from the Olympic movement can move into football's top job. The two structures are closely linked.

The electoral calendar normally follows the four-year Olympic cycle, with a new president and council chosen for each cycle. That rhythm can be broken. If a president resigns or the federal council can no longer work, the statute calls for a new elective assembly before the cycle ends. In the past, CONI has also appointed a commissioner to run the federation for a time. This happened after the national team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, when the federation's leadership fell and a period of extraordinary administration followed before a new president was elected.

How the vote works today

The election uses weighted delegate voting. Each member body sends delegates, and their votes count according to the share of the assembly that the statute gives to their group. A candidate therefore has to build a coalition across the different parts of the game. Winning over one league is not enough. Professional clubs, amateur football and the technical associations of players, coaches and referees often want different things, and the result of the election depends on how those interests line up.

The statute also sets how many votes a candidate needs. Earlier rounds normally require a higher qualified majority, and later rounds a lower one, so that the vote produces a winner and does not stall. The exact thresholds and the number of rounds are set out in the federation's statute and electoral rules, and readers should check them there.

For Serie A, the key question is how much weight the top division has. The leading clubs have long argued that their voice in federal decisions should reflect what they contribute to the game's finances. The federation has revised its statute in recent years to give the professional leagues, and Serie A in particular, more weight than before. The details are still debated. This weight matters because the federal council the assembly elects decides on licensing criteria, the structure of the leagues and how revenue is shared between professional and grassroots football.

Common misunderstandings

The most common mistake is to think the Serie A clubs choose the FIGC president. They are one bloc among several. Their delegates matter, but the amateur game and the associations of players, coaches and referees also vote. Because of this mix, candidates usually campaign on the whole of Italian football rather than on the top division alone.

A second mistake is to treat the FIGC and Lega Serie A as the same body. The league organises the Serie A championship, sells its broadcasting rights and represents its member clubs. The federation sits above all competitions and sets the rules they work within. A change of president at the federation does not change who runs the league.

A third mistake is to treat a reported favourite as the confirmed result. Football Italia describes Malagò as expected to win, not as elected. Until the assembly has voted, the outcome is still a matter for the delegates.

Finally, some readers expect a new president to change everything at once. The president leads a federal council, works within a statute approved under the Olympic framework, and must follow UEFA and FIFA rules. Changes to things like club licensing or the format of competitions usually go through formal procedures, not a single decision from the top.

Where to look next

The most reliable sources are primary documents. The FIGC publishes its statute, its electoral rules and official notices of assembly meetings, and these set out the voting weights, thresholds and candidacy requirements more precisely than any summary can. CONI's principles for national federations explain the outer limits of the system. Lega Serie A's own communications show how the top division sets out its position before a vote. For the order of events, compare the original Football Italia report with the federation's official announcements as they are published.

Frequently asked questions

Who elects the president of the FIGC?

Delegates at the FIGC elective assembly elect the president. They represent the federation's member bodies: the professional leagues, the amateur National Amateur League and the associations of players, coaches and referees. Each group's vote carries a weight set by the federation's statute. No single bloc controls the result, so candidates usually need support from several parts of Italian football to win.

When is the FIGC assembly taking place?

Football Italia reports that the FIGC general assembly has been called for 14 December. Other details, such as the full list of candidates and the exact procedure on the day, have not been confirmed in the material available here. Readers wanting the official timetable should check the notices the federation publishes about its assembly meetings, which give the formal date and agenda.

Do Serie A clubs choose the head of Italian football?

No. Serie A is an important voting bloc, and the federation has increased its weight through recent statute changes, but it is only one part of the assembly. The other professional leagues, amateur football and the associations representing players, coaches and referees also vote. A candidate who relies only on the top-flight clubs would normally fall short of the majority needed.

What is the difference between the FIGC and Lega Serie A?

The FIGC is the national federation. It governs all Italian football, runs the national teams and sets the rules for every competition. Lega Serie A is the association of top-flight clubs. It organises the championship, sells its media rights and represents its members. The league works within the rules the federation sets, so electing a federation president does not change who runs the league.

What happens if an FIGC president leaves before the end of the term?

The federation's statute provides for a new elective assembly to choose a successor before the normal four-year cycle ends. In more serious cases, where the governing bodies can no longer work, the Olympic authorities have in the past appointed a commissioner to run the federation for a time until a new president is elected. The exact steps are set out in the statute.

Sources and further reading

• Football Italia, the original report that the FIGC general assembly has been called and that Malagò is expected to become president
• FIGC, the federation's statute and electoral rules, covering voting weights, majorities and candidacy requirements
• CONI, the principles that apply to all Italian national sports federations
• Lega Serie A, official statements on the top division's role and position within the federation