Italy: Malagò’s Appointment Sparks Debate Among Fans—Who Is Diana Bianchedi?
FIGC President Giovanni Malagò announced in an interview with *La Gazzetta dello Sport* that Diana Bianchedi will be the next head of the Italian national team delegation. The head of Italian soccer made this decision to bring about a “cultural shift.”
“It’s a choice that responds to a need—or rather, a request from fans, from the people, from Italians. Soccer should no longer be perceived as a separate entity. Diana Bianchedi enjoys international prestige and credibility; she is a two-time Olympic champion with a background in academic studies and specializations. It’s a cultural revolution, I’d say. Serving as deputy vice president of CONI and, at the same time, the institutional face of Italian soccer on the international stage is like putting soccer back at the center of a comprehensive dialogue with the world of sports…”.
Malagò’s choice is sparking debate on social media: many are wondering if it’s an innovative choice or just a superficial move to hide the rejections he’s received. “They think they’re being innovative by making these choices. Instead, they’re making an already desperate situation even worse,” “Why not a former female soccer player at this point? Someone like Morace or Sara Gama. With all due respect to Bianchedi, who’s actually a good fit,” “She’s not a good fit at all and has been put in a role where she lacks knowledge of the subject,” “What cultural revolution? Give it a rest,” “The usual superficial, pandering move.”
Diana Bianchedi, a former fencer, won two gold medals in foil at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Games. She has won five gold medals at the World Championships and two at the European Championships. She has been inducted into the World Fencing Hall of Fame.
After retiring from competition, she embarked on a career in sports administration and in 2001 was appointed executive vice president of CONI. Over the years, she has held positions with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and UEFA, and she coordinated the successful bid by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, subsequently joining the organizing committee.
