OfMonica Colombo
The president of CONI, Giovanni Malagò does not hide his amazement and displeasure at the government’s measure: «Wrong times and methods, Abodi succeeded in bringing Gravina and Lotito to an agreement»
Malagò attacks Abodi. “The autonomy of sport has been 100% violated: if you believe that different things need to be done to improve, that’s right, but different times and ways needed to be found.” The CONI president does not hide his surprise and displeasure at a measure that has generated tension in the world of sport and football. He expresses firm opposition to the methods of communicating an attempted invasion of politics into sport. «It’s not good that CONI didn’t know anything about it. And that we learned this from the federation and the press. We deserve respect and this is an indication of the fact that the conditions are not good.” For now it is the football and basketball clubs that are in turmoil, but the number one in Italian sport underlines that “in reality the measure could concern all the other federations and every sporting discipline”.
Malagò, as a fine weaver of diplomatic relations with institutions, including foreign ones, asks himself: «Are we sure that without having consulted UEFA and FIFA this thing is fine? Abodi says the project has been under discussion since June 2023: that’s exactly what he shouldn’t have said… Because this is how the whole illogicality of the matter emerges: we should have dealt with it collectively from then on instead of discovering it last week, during the period in which Covisoc checks whether the companies have complied with the requirements”.
The president of CONI cannot rest but manages to joke: «We are all disconcerted: Abodi managed to get Gravina and Lotito to agree for once, he will go down in history…». The Executive’s plan to strip Covisoc of its powers to convey the economic-financial control of the clubs to a government agency has exacerbated the feelings against Abodi and the Government but also exasperated atavistic rivalries between Lega Serie A and FIGC. So, separated at the destination, the members invited to the event show up this evening at 6pm emergency meeting called by federal president Gravina. Appealing to a sense of responsibility, the federal president will hear the opinions of each invited representation (the presidents of the Leagues of A, B, Lega Pro, players, coaches, referees) and will point out to them that a single line to demonstrate to politicians that the system holds up as it is.
However, it remains to be demonstrated whether Gravina’s wish will turn into reality. Lorenzo Casini will bring the demands of Serie A despite the fact that he has not previously convened a meeting or council to gauge the moods of the presidents and present a unanimous thought. Already in the Senate hearing last month the president of the League of A had asked for “interventions on financial controls to ensure greater independence of the controllers compared to the subjects who dictate the rules”. A wish that the government evidently took literally. Never mind if Casini now turns around and specifies that the hope was that the surveillance of football accounts would leave the sphere of influence of the FIGC but remain within the sports system (under the CONI?).
Neither Casini nor President Lotito believe they are the inspirers of this form of intrusiveness by the Executive. Certainly if Gravina fights to maintain the status quo, Casini will oppose it, while the president of the Lega di B, Mauro Balata clarifies: «We have been calling for reforms for years, we must collaborate with the government». Starting from these premises, will football be able to find a synthesis, a harmony?
May 6, 2024 (modified May 6, 2024 | 09:02)
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