Giorgio Mulé, a Forza Italia deputy who signed the amendment that will dramatically change the world of football and its political weight, has spoken out about the Meloni government’s decision to bypass sports authorities in implementing these changes.
In an interview with Radio CRC (via Calciomercato), Mulé expressed satisfaction with the groundwork laid for the revolution in football governance:
“I’m very satisfied with the premises that have been set. What was initially greeted as a provocation, and despite the pressures I had to endure, has ultimately led to a result that revolutionizes football with an amendment recognizing what is acknowledged in all civil spheres.”
Mulé explained the core of the changes:
“We’re talking about granting representation to a component that has a unique economic weight in the sector. What happened yesterday determines and denotes the change: it had to be acknowledged that rebalancing within the Federal Council is a due act.”
He outlined the next steps:
“At this point, on July 29, either the new Statute will be determined, or the Assembly, convened to elect the President on November 4, will become an Extraordinary Assembly for Statute modifications.”
Mulé emphasized the need for change:
“I add that Minister Abodi did well not to go yesterday, to avoid accusations of manipulation or trying to impose something. The amendment arrives ‘stripped down’ to avoid entering the matter so deeply, but simultaneously giving unequivocal signals to the Federation that we can’t continue like this.”
On the principle of representation, Mulé stated:
“In the decree that the Senate will approve between tomorrow and the day after, the principle is established: in electoral matters, you must recognize fair representation to those who make a greater economic contribution.”
Regarding potential resistance to change, Mulé warned:
“If there’s no agreement, there’s an urgent bill (not a decree) that the Minister of Sport will define within a few weeks to fill what others evidently don’t want to do.”
When asked about FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, Mulé was dismissive:
“We will move in the direction of a true and structural reform of football, which, I emphasize, is not made on people, because I care little about Gravina, with all due respect. I care that Italian football, young people, and youth academies are valued and put in a position to make a contribution in the future.”
Mulé concluded with a stark message:
“The Government is ready to intervene on the FIGC if necessary. If this football and this Federation are not capable of self-regeneration and self-reform, someone has to do the dirty work. Now there’s time to reason, without arm-wrestling or impositions from one side or the other. But if the starting point is that nothing can be touched, then someone else will have to govern the change. And that someone is Parliament.”
