Rome, June 22 (QNA) - The extraordinary general assembly of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), meeting in Rome, elected Giovanni Malago as its new president on Monday.

Malago, the former president of the Italian National Olympic Committee and the organizing committee for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, secured 68.58 percent of the vote, defeating his rival Giancarlo Abete, a representative of amateur soccer and the federation's president from 2007 to 2014, who received 29.17 percent.

Malago succeeds Gabriele Gravina, who had led the federation since 2018 before resigning following Italy's national team's loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European playoff final for the 2026 World Cup (1-1 after extra time, 1-4 on penalties) on March 31.

Malago will face a series of complex challenges, including selecting a new national team coach to replace Gennaro Gattuso. He must also address reforms to the youth development system, which has been blamed for the national team's decline and its absence from three consecutive World Cups. Additionally, he will oversee preparations for the 2032 European Championship, which Italy will co-host with Turkiye. (QNA)