FIGC candidates Malago and Abete present plans for future of Italian football

Giancarlo Abete and Giovanni Malagò are officially the Presidential candidates for the FIGC election on June 22, presenting their plans for the future of Italian football.

The deadline to put forward their paperwork was 40 days before the election, which will be held at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria Hotel on June 22.

Abete’s candidacy was proposed by the Lega Nazionale Dilettanti (LND, amateur league), while Malagò was put forward by the Lega Serie A.

Unusually, there was a third attempted name thrown into the ring, former player Renato Miele, but it was rejected because he lacked the sufficient backing of delegates.

The manifestos of both candidates were also published, as the election campaign now begins in earnest.

Malagò proposes amongst other things a system of incentives to get more young Italian players getting time on the field in Serie A, along with a national plan to help the construction of new stadiums and training structures.

Abete’s plan would limit the powers of Serie A to block progress, insisting that the FIGC should have the opportunity to make decisions for the good of the overall football movement in Italy.

He is also pushing for the reduction of the number of clubs, but the introduction of a managerial group to run the Club Italia section around the Nazionale.

Meanwhile, there is also an election for new federation councillors, and candidates include Inter President Beppe Marotta and Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini.