“We risk making a global fool.” The president of CONI, Giovanni Malagò, explains this in an interview with Repubblica where he comments on the reform of the Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi.
“Regardless of the fact of substance, there is a fact of form: CONI read that document in Repubblica, and then on the agencies. And it obtained the draft only through the FIGC, which had received it shortly before from minister – he continues -. I would have at least expected it to be sent to us too”.
Regarding the control system of the teams, Malagò underlines how “this rule was not created to improve the situation. But to change the rules of the game. I say it very frankly, I have serious doubts that this discussion” of political interference in football “could be accepted by international sports bodies. Therefore, at the very least, this must be verified before taking any position on a regulatory level. Otherwise we risk making a fool of ourselves worldwide and, unfortunately, Italian governments are not new to similar situations.”
ANSA Agency Lega Serie A, Fip and Lega Basket: ‘No to government agency’ – Football – Ansa.it Clubs unanimous against the authority, but the process continues in the sports field (ANSA)Also under discussion is the Mulè law, which would like to give the government the possibility of appointing two members of the army to the CONI council and there is a question about this. “Whoever goes to the Council represents himself, not a third party. So if a soldier enters, at that moment he can no longer be a soldier, because the IOC will never be able to accept a soldier who answers to others in the Council”, he concludes.
ANSA Agency Abodi: ‘Forward with the Agency, now only integrations’ – Football – Ansa.it Ministry: ‘Gravina has been informed for some time’. N.1 FIGC: ‘It’s not true’ (ANSA)“The document – replies the minister for sport and youth Andrea Abodi – was received from the federal president, a non-definitive text. I also try to pay attention to the form, but the language used by the president of CONI does not seem to me the most formal taking into account the circumstances. We are all serving the general interest.” Could UEFA and FIFA intervene? “Here – adds the minister for sport and youth Andrea Abodi on Radio Anch’io lo sport – sporting autonomy is not affected in the slightest. Financial controls are simply being attributed to a third party, which are not included in the choices sports which are the absolute prerogative of the Football Federation”.
Would the new agency cost two and a half million a year, all paid by the clubs? “This too – explains Abodi – is a topic we are talking about. In a world that has a financial turnover of several billions, two and a half million would be an investment in security and third party which is especially needed by those clubs that pay regularly and ask that the same rules be respected by everyone, also to guarantee fair competition”.
Changes to the text: “The text is subject to further checks, but it cannot be distorted, it will be integrated and enriched with content. I would like the decision to be made because I believe it is indispensable, our system needs it and the government also asks us for it public opinion”.
Then Abodi responds to a question on the appointment of two soldiers within the CONI Board: “Is it true? Parliament has taken action to represent the military sports bodies and civil bodies of the State within the statutory bodies of CONI. If he’s talking about it, it doesn’t seem like an invasion of the pitch. It seems like a state-funded representation of a sports world within the sports system.”
Finally, the minister intervenes on the Lega-FIGC tensions: “I hope that the right tones are adopted and that a general interest in an increasingly competitive Serie A is thought of. A reform has not yet been achieved, but I hope that it will happen in the next few years.” months, without particular interests and with the right institutional education”.
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