The Serie A League is focusing on the former CONI number one. Politics likes the president of the Amateurs. But an outsider like Albertini also appears, intriguing the footballers’ association
The child walks with a splendid golden retriever together with his friends, notices the impressive crowd of journalists stationed in front of the Football Federation headquarters and asks decisively: “So, has he resigned?”. Yes, Gravina is no longer the president. “And who comes in his place?”. No one can answer this question while waiting for the elections on June 22nd. But it is a good sign that very young people are still interested in the fate of football: he, who will be 12 years old at most, is one of the many who have never seen Italy in a World Cup. To try to satisfy his curiosity, however, it is legitimate to imagine the scenarios. And the alignments of the six federal components which, each with its own percentage of incidence, will have to guarantee a future for the movement.
strong name
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One of the most anticipated comparisons will involve the Serie A League, which has achieved a significant increase in its electoral weight, rising from 12 to 18 percent of the votes. The Confindustria del calcio claims to indicate to the Government (of football, always) the candidate it deems most suitable to advance the interests of the economic and technical engine of the system. And the name in question would be Giovanni Malagò, former number one of the Coni and recently president of the organizing committee of the Milan Cortina Olympics. Malagò, although not bringing all the Serie A clubs to an agreement, would represent the long-awaited discontinuity with the previous management and a sign of autonomy with respect to possible political interference (his frictions with Minister Abodi over re-eligibility at the top of the Coni are now history). Furthermore, he is a profile that combines managerial skills and experience in the world of sport which he has lived as a protagonist for decades. His authoritative credentials could also convince, in a few weeks from now, the most skeptical voters, especially in the Amateur area which weighs more in percentage terms (34%). But here we enter slippery territory.
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The president of the Amateur League is Giancarlo Abete, former federal president who yesterday, leaving the building in Via Allegri, commented bitterly: “I would never have imagined that my resignation in 2014 in Brazil could coincide with Italy’s last match in a World Cup”. It is a way of pointing out that his farewell did not solve the problems of the football movement. On the contrary. Abete, a faithful ally of Gravina until the end, would give continuity to the work done in the previous management and would not be unwelcome to the political world: “But I don’t ask myself the problem at the moment. We must rather ask ourselves about the system that helps us recover competitiveness, both at national and club level. We will evaluate calmly”. Even if… “In the past, 51% was not reached and we ended up with a commissioner. An in-depth comparison is needed.” From the series: to be president you must at least count on me. It remains to be seen whether all the Amateurs will side with him and whether the other components will not find an agreement among themselves: the game is open and could reserve many surprises.
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The race for the seat cannot be limited to two names, if we consider that there is more than a month left until the deadline (13 May) for the submission of candidatures. For example, the idea of Demetrio Albertini, already a candidate in 2014 and beaten by Carlo Tavecchio, came out of the Football Association. Young, competent, elegant, he is a figure who also intrigues the other members and would be in the front row compared to other prominent former footballers such as Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Del Piero or even Giorgio Chiellini for budget reasons. However, the AIC, which accounts for 20%, wouldn’t mind Malagò either. Matteo Marani, the current president of the Lega di C, has less chance, and is also very happy to maintain the position once occupied by Gravina, who has also resigned but is not invisible in the consultations. Finally, the orientation of Renzo Ulivieri’s Assoallenatori must be evaluated, which moves the needle with 10 percent of the votes.
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