Rome, 10 Sept. (LaPresse) – “The registration case? It’s unbelievable.” So said FIGC president Giovanni Malagò, speaking on the sidelines of a panel discussion on major events in Rome regarding his alleged ineligibility to stand for election to the Football Federation due to his lack of registration with the federation. He clarified that this is not a technicality, but rather “a matter of interpretation”, which, “coincidentally”, “applies only to me personally”. “Did I expect so much politics in football? Honestly, I did expect it, but I thought that after the first, second and third time, people would stop; instead, evidently, in some ways there is a form of affectionate obsession,” he added. “This isn’t something to be pleased about, but it is a fact about which I am certainly very calm.” When asked whether this affair might damage the FIGC’s bid for Euro 2032, Malagò replied that “this is a journalistically astute question. If I say no, I wouldn’t be being honest; if I say yes, I’d be wrong because I mustn’t cause concern”. “Did I expect such a difficult start? Yes, honestly, yes; we’ve been used to difficulties all our lives. I think, however, that there have also been important and positive developments. I see a technical team brimming with tremendous enthusiasm; I see a strong bond and synergy between Roberto Mancini, Claudio Ranieri, Gianfranco Zola and the whole Club Italia team; then we’ll also see what happens on the pitch,” he concluded. “I see that amongst those working at the federation there is a great willingness to collaborate on this new direction and to plan for Euro 2032 with UEFA. Fortunately, there aren’t just external factors which, shall we say, aren’t really part of the world of football.”
FIGC, Malagò: “The membership case? It’s unbelievable – a personalised interpretation”
Rome, 10 Sept. (LaPresse) – “The registration case? It’s unbelievable.” So said FIGC president Giovanni Malagò, speaking on the sidelines of a panel discussion on major events in Rome regarding his alleged ineligibility to stand for election to the Football Federation due to his lack of registration with the federation. He clarified that this is not a technicality, but rather “a matter of interpretation”, which, “coincidentally”, “applies only to me personally”. “Did I expect so much politics in football? Honestly, I did expect it, but I thought that after the first, second and third time, people would stop; instead, evidently, in some ways there is a form of affectionate obsession,” he added. “This isn’t something to be pleased about, but it is a fact about which I am certainly very calm.” When asked whether this affair might damage the FIGC’s bid for Euro 2032, Malagò replied that “this is a journalistically astute question. If I say no, I wouldn’t be being honest; if I say yes, I’d be wrong because I mustn’t cause concern”. “Did I expect such a difficult start? Yes, honestly, yes; we’ve been used to difficulties all our lives. I think, however, that there have also been important and positive developments. I see a technical team brimming with tremendous enthusiasm; I see a strong bond and synergy between Roberto Mancini, Claudio Ranieri, Gianfranco Zola and the whole Club Italia team; then we’ll also see what happens on the pitch,” he concluded. “I see that amongst those working at the federation there is a great willingness to collaborate on this new direction and to plan for Euro 2032 with UEFA. Fortunately, there aren’t just external factors which, shall we say, aren’t really part of the world of football.”