Malagò blames 'blatant' and 'unconventional' interference after Bianchedi resignation

FIGC President Giovanni Malagò has had his say on the resignation of Italy’s delegation chief Diana Bianchedi less than two months after she was handed the role, insisting that there is ‘blatant’ and ‘unconventional’ interference in the governance of Italian sport.

Malagò reacts after Bianchedi resignation On Wednesday evening, Bianchedi announced that she would be resigning from the role of head of delegation for the Italy national team, right in the middle of a run of four Nations League matches in the September-October international break.

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – JUNE 24: Diana Bianchedi, Manager of the National Olympic Committee looks on during IOC Announcement at SwissTech Convention Center on June 24, 2019 in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Photo by Robert Hradil/Getty Images) Bianchedi was appointed to the role of delegation chief by Malagò over the summer, following the resignation of Gianluigi Buffon from the same role earlier this year.

Unlike Buffon or any of the other previous Italy delegation chiefs, Gianluca Vialli or Gigi Riva, Bianchedi’s background was in fencing, and more recently with the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

Bianchedi was a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 1992 and 2000, was the youngest individual ever and the first woman ever to be appointed as a CONI executive in 2001, and in 2025, was appointed as vice-President of the Italian Olympic Committee.

Bianchedi worked closely with former CONI President Malagò, who was elected as head of the Italian football federation (FIGC) earlier this summer.

ROME, ITALY – DECEMBER 15: CONI President Giovanni Malago’ attends the Italian Olympic Commitee ‘Collari d’Oro’ Awards ceremony on December 15, 2015 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) Bianchedi took the decision to resign from her position as head of the Italy national football team delegation on Wednesday evening following public criticism from Italian minister for sport Andrea Abodi. Specifically, they had disagreed over the appointment of a special commissioner for the Italian weightlifting federation, only to back the appointment of the commissioner when it came down to a vote. There had also been complaints that Bianchedi’s would be an ‘incompatible’ fit for the FIGC due to her role with CONI.

Malagò, meanwhile, is facing the increasingly likely threat that he will have to step down from his position as head of the FIGC less than four months after being appointed due to the fact that he was not a registered member of the Italian FA at the time of the election.

Malagò says that this, and the criticism that led Bianchedi to resign from her position on Wednesday are due to ‘unconventional’ interference, ‘which in my opinion is completely wrong’.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – MARCH 05: Giovanni Malago, President of the Organising Committee for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, speaks during the Paralympic Games Opening Press Conference ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at on March 05, 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images) “Diana Bianchedi’s decision is a choice that I can only agree with,” said Malagò on Thursday (via Sky Sport Italia ).

“The interference is unconventional and out of place. I think it’s impossible to lay the blame at her feet. It seems to me that the minister for sport was not the only one interfering with issues concerning football. The facts seem clear to me.”

He continued: “Diana was particularly upset by the fact that the minister for sport discussed merit and behaviour within the CONI council.

“What is happening is a matter of fact. It’s not a question of being friends with Mario or Carlo, Giovanni or Luciano: It is clear that there is blatant interference in the dynamics of sporting governance, which in my opinion is completely wrong.”