Breaking: Lega Serie A president Ezio Maria Simonelli has demanded a primary role in FIGC reforms after Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup triggered the resignation of federation president Gabriele Gravina and delegation chief Gigi Buffon — with coach Gennaro Gattuso expected to follow. With a June 22 FIGC election looming, Serie A is pressing for greater influence over governance, youth development and club patrimony.
FIGC leadership vacuum after Italy miss prompts Serie A power push
Italy’s shock failure to reach the World Cup has produced immediate institutional fallout: FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and delegation head Gigi Buffon have resigned, and coach Gennaro Gattuso is widely expected to step down. Lega Serie A president Ezio Maria Simonelli seized the moment, insisting Serie A clubs “must have a primary role” in any reforms of the federation.
Why this matters
The resignations create a governance crisis at the heart of Italian football at a moment when accountability and reform are unavoidable. Control of the FIGC shapes decisions on coaching appointments, youth development pathways, competition formats and the financial stewardship of clubs — all areas Serie A says need urgent overhaul.
June 22 FIGC election: stakes and voting math
An election has been scheduled for June 22 to pick a new FIGC president. The current delegate voting system allocates influence across the football pyramid: Serie A holds 18% of the vote, Serie B 6%, Lega Pro 12%, the Amateur League (LND) 34%, the Players’ Association 20% and the Coaches’ Association 10%. That balance hands significant weight to non-professional bodies and players’ and coaches’ representatives.
Serie A’s strategic aim
Simonelli’s demand for a “primary role” is a calculated attempt by top-flight clubs to tilt governance toward those who control the biggest assets and revenues. Serie A argues it should guide reforms on youth development, governance and club patrimony to restore competitive standards and international standing. The message: clubs want a seat not just at the table, but at the head of it.
Policy flashpoints: 18-team proposal and club governance
One immediate point of contention is the previously floated proposal to reduce Serie A from 20 to 18 teams — a reform Gravina had championed and which clubs fought against. The debate over league size is emblematic of deeper tensions: competitive balance, broadcast income distribution, calendar congestion and the sustainability of smaller clubs.
What this could mean for domestic football
If Serie A succeeds in gaining greater influence, expect reforms prioritizing financial stability, clearer youth development structures and stronger protections for club assets. That could accelerate centralised decision-making on television revenues and licensing, but also risks alienating the amateur and lower-league constituencies that currently hold a larger share of FIGC votes.
Leadership picture and likely candidates
Various names have circulated as potential FIGC president candidates; former CONI chief Giovanni Malagò is frequently mentioned. Lega Serie A publicly refrained from discussing individual names, signalling a focus on structural power rather than personality politics — at least for now.
Next steps and timeline
Expect intense negotiation in the run-up to June 22 as clubs, the LND, players and coaches jockey for influence. Any shift in voting weight or governance rules will require consensus-building and could reshape Italian football’s decision-making for years. For the national team, stabilising leadership and clarifying strategic priorities must be immediate priorities if Italy hopes to recover its standing on the global stage.
Analyst take: opportunity amid upheaval
This crisis is both a threat and an opportunity. The embarrassment of missing another World Cup lays bare chronic structural weaknesses — from youth pipelines to governance and financial resilience.
Serie A’s push for a primary role is understandable: top clubs fund the system and want to protect their long-term competitiveness.
Italian FA president resigns after latest WC failure
The challenge will be reconciling club ambitions with grassroots and lower-league interests to produce reforms that are effective and broadly supported.
Football Italia
