Giancarlo Abete pushes federation reform and top coach hire ahead of FIGC election

Giancarlo Abete, president of the Lega Nazionale Dilettanti and candidate for the FIGC presidency, outlined a programme to overhaul the Italian football federation ahead of the June 22 election. He said the priority is to create conditions that reduce the current veto‑style decision‑making, referencing the post‑Calciopoli reforms and the need to apply Coni’s general principles.

Abete emphasized investing in youth academies and improving technical training, warning that an excess of professional clubs – 97 in Italy versus 56 in Germany and 42 in Spain – hampers development. He called for appointing a high‑profile technical director for the national team after three consecutive World Cup exclusions, stressing that “any next president must go for a top‑level coach.”

He also noted that reducing the number of Serie A teams is not a viable solution without a qualified majority, and that the sportivo constraint should be revisited to protect amateur values while encouraging investment in youth structures. His main rival for the FIGC presidency is Giovanni Malagò.