Malagò, 'I will work to unite the world of arbitration, I am looking for more funds'

"There is the problem of young referees, as also underlined by the new president Massini, to whom I congratulate because he won a competition in a photo finish. A demonstration of democracy, without prejudice to the fact that the other side of the coin shows a deeply divided world in The Hague: I will have to do as much as possible to bring it together. The issue of young people is very serious, there have already been particularly sad episodes of physical aggression which are not an incentive". Thus, interviewed by Radio Anch'io Sport on Radio 1, FIGC commissioner Giovanni Malagò intervenes on the topic of financial support for referees, which if greater would allow for more long-term planning.

"There is a budget problem - admits Malagò -. I arrived at the end of June, the '26 budget was already set and it wasn't extraordinary. I'm scrambling from all sides to look for funds and coverage for what we consider to be a very important thing".

The FIGC commissioner then responds to the rumors that the lawyer Giancarlo Viglione is a probable replacement for the current general secretary of the federation, Marco Brunelli. "The morning after I arrived and advised Coni, I left at dawn for Berlin, where I spent two and a half days walled in a hotel with all my UEFA colleagues to talk about major issues, especially the 2032 European Championships. I never returned to the office, but something will certainly have to be done because the resolution is very detailed on some aspects.

However, I find it wrong to support a thesis now."