The race to become the next president of the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio is gathering pace, with Giancarlo Abete and Giovanni Malagò both having met with clubs from the Lega Serie B as they seek to build support ahead of the election, according to Football Italia.
The two men are the principal candidates expected to contest the presidency, and the outreach to Serie B's member clubs reflects the significance of the second tier's voting bloc within the FIGC's electoral structure. Neither candidacy has yet been formally confirmed, but the meetings signal that both camps are treating the campaign as live.
Abete is a familiar figure in Italian football governance, having previously served as FIGC president between 2008 and 2014. His familiarity with the federal machinery and its constituent parts gives him a certain institutional credibility, though that same association with the establishment may complicate his appeal to those seeking a change in direction.
Malagò brings a different profile. Long-serving as president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, he has operated at the intersection of sport and public life for years, and a move into the FIGC role would represent a significant shift in focus. His supporters would argue that his broader sporting authority and political connections make him well-placed to navigate the structural and commercial challenges facing Italian football at every level.
Serie B's clubs represent a meaningful constituency in any FIGC election, and the fact that both candidates have moved early to engage them suggests each is conscious that the presidential vote will not be decided by the top flight alone. The Lega Serie A, the Lega Pro, the amateur game, and the players' and coaches' associations all carry weight in the college that ultimately determines the outcome.
Italian football's federal politics have rarely been straightforward, and the coming weeks are likely to bring further declarations of intent, formal candidacy announcements, and the kind of coalition-building that precedes any significant governance vote. Football Italia reports that the campaign is already in full swing, and with Serie B having now been courted by both sides, attention will turn to which other constituencies each candidate targets next.