Another appointment for the Italy staff has hit problems, as the CONI announced it is investigating an ‘incompatibility’ issue for new delegation chief Diana Bianchedi.
Revamping the Nazionale was one of the priorities for new FIGC President Giovanni Malagò, but he has run into a series of obstacles.
He hired Paolo Maldini as technical director of Club Italia and Leonardo his special advisor, only for both to resign within three weeks over the struggle to find a coach.
Italy told they cannot hire Bianchedi
Only this morning, Malagò announced in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport that Diana Bianchedi would serve as the head of the delegation for the Italy national team, a role that had been filled by Gianluigi Buffon until his resignation in March.
However, that might be blocked before it even begins, because the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) announced it would evaluate ‘opportunities, grounds and incompatibility’ of this nomination.
This is because Bianchedi already has a job within the CONI, as vice president to Luciano Buonfiglio, which would represent a conflict of interest, as well as an inability to do both roles.
Bianchedi was a fencing champion who won Olympic medals for Italy, then after retirement became a sports director with a high profile.
The CONI oversees all sport in Italy, and current Football Federation President Malagò had been the CONI President from 2013 to 2025.
