FIGC president Giovanni Malago has criticised what he described as “blatant” and “unconventional” interference in the management of Italian sport after Diana Bianchedi resigned as head of delegation for the Italy national team.
Bianchedi announced her decision on Wednesday evening, less than two months after taking up the position and during a period featuring four Nations League matches across the September-October international break.
She was appointed by Malago over the summer after Gianluigi Buffon stepped down from the role earlier this year. Bianchedi was the first delegation chief whose sporting background was in fencing rather than football, following Buffon and former incumbents Gianluca Vialli and Gigi Riva.
A two-time Olympic gold medallist, Bianchedi won titles in 1992 and 2000. She became the youngest person and the first woman to be appointed as a CONI executive in 2001, before being named vice-president of the Italian Olympic Committee in 2025.
Bianchedi had worked closely with Malago during his time as CONI president. He was elected head of the Italian football federation (FIGC) earlier this summer.
Her resignation followed public criticism from Italian minister for sport Andrea Abodi. The pair had disagreed over the appointment of a special commissioner for the Italian weightlifting federation, although both ultimately supported the appointment when the matter came to a vote.
Questions had also been raised over whether Bianchedi’s position with CONI was incompatible with her FIGC responsibilities.
Malago is himself facing the increasingly likely prospect of having to leave the FIGC presidency less than four months after his election. The issue concerns the fact that he was not a registered member of the Italian FA when the election took place.
He said both the pressure surrounding his position and the events that preceded Bianchedi’s resignation were examples of improper interference.
“Diana Bianchedi’s decision is a choice that I can only agree with,” Malago told Sky Sport Italia on Thursday.
“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.”
Malago added that Bianchedi had been particularly troubled by the minister’s comments about 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,” he said.
