Giovanni Malagò said that ‘common sense’ prevailed after being appointed as FIGC Special Commissioner and confirmed that new presidential elections will be held on December 14.

Malagò was appointed as the FIGC Special Commissioner after a meeting with CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio on Tuesday.

Buonfiglio’s original plan was to appoint a different Special Commissioner replacing Malagò. The latter, in fact, was not a formal FIGC member when he stood for election in June, leading many to believe that CONI delegates would reject his appointment.

The dispute escalated into a broader political confrontation, involving figures close to both Malagò nd Buonfiglio. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Monday that Buonfiglio’s vote in the case could itself have been challenged because of a potential conflict of interest, as his son works for a company that manages Venezia’s marketing and new stadium project.

After the meeting between Malagò and Buonfiglio, the CONI National Council unanimously approved Malagò’s appointment as FIGC Special Commissioner.

“I believe that each of you, everyone who has followed the matter, can judge whether there’s a winner and a loser. Or maybe there isn’t either,” Malagò told reporters on Tuesday (via Gazzetta ).

“To say that there have been misunderstandings seems an understatement to me. I received a call from President Buonfiglio yesterday. As you know, I was in Emilia Romagna [for Italy vs. Turkiye], and he asked me to meet today. I was fully available. There was a proposal, which I’m happy to share, and it has been confirmed by all the colleagues.

“There was a debate about who could and couldn’t vote. I accepted the role for the love of sport, CONI, and out of respect for my colleagues, to avoid further division and embarrassment; I thought it was the right thing to do.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Malagò: ‘Common sense’ prevailed, new FIGC election on December 14" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Gironi & Calendario metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

Editorial Fact-Check & Verification Note: This briefing was curated, corroborated, and synthesized by the Mondiali 2026 Italia Editorial Desk. Readers following "Malagò: ‘Common sense’ prevailed, new FIGC election on December 14" are encouraged to review the full primary source coverage linked below for complete historical context, direct quotes, and official statements.