• The new regulation will take effect from the 2026/27 Serie A campaign.
• Teams heading to European finals will avoid title or relegation play-offs.
• Head-to-head records will now settle any tied positions in these cases.
• The change follows scheduling chaos during the 2024/25 season finale.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has approved a major change to Serie A rules. The Federal Council confirmed that from the 2026/27 season, there will be no play-off matches to decide the title or relegation in certain situations.

This new rule applies when two clubs finish with the same number of points. If one of those clubs is preparing for a European final, they will not play an extra match. Instead, their head-to-head record from the league season will decide who finishes higher.

The change covers the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League finals.

This decision comes after problems during the 2024/25 season. Inter Milan and Napoli were fighting for the Scudetto until the last day. They could have finished level on points, which would have needed a title play-off. However, Inter were also due to play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. This created a big headache for organisers.

To solve the problem last season, both clubs played their final matches earlier than the rest of the league. The new rule removes this risk for the future. The head-to-head result between the two tied teams will now serve as the final tiebreaker.

• Giovanni Malagò will submit his official candidacy for the FIGC Presidency on Wednesday
• The former Italian Olympic Committee chief has won support from Lega Serie B, Serie A, and player associations
• He faces rival Giancarlo Abete for the role vacated by Gabriele Gravina after Italy’s World Cup failure
• The election uses a weighted voting system involving professional leagues and amateur associations
• Malagò now holds a clear majority of electoral votes ahead of the ballot

Former Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) president Giovanni Malagò has formally declared his intention to become the next leader of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). He made this announcement on Tuesday evening. Malagò confirmed he will submit his official papers on Wednesday.

His decision follows fresh support from Lega Serie B. This adds to existing backing from Serie A, the players’ union, and the coaches’ association. These groups together control a significant portion of the electoral votes.

Malagò is competing against Giancarlo Abete for the position. The role became empty when Gabriele Gravina left office. Gravina stepped down immediately after Italy failed to reach the 2026 World Cup finals in March.

The upcoming election involves several key groups. Serie A holds 18 per cent of votes through 20 delegates. Serie B controls 6 per cent with 20 delegates. Serie C has 12 per cent through 57 delegates. The amateur leagues possess the largest share at 34 per cent with 99 delegates. The players’ association holds 20 per cent via 52 delegates. Finally, the coaches’ association commands 10 per cent through 26 delegates.

With support from both top divisions plus the players and coaches, Malagò appears to hold a strong position ahead of the vote.

• Giovanni Malagò wins support from both the Italian Players’ Association and the Italian Coaches’ Association for his FIGC presidential bid.
• The election to choose a replacement for Gabriele Gravina will take place on June 22.
• Malagò previously led the Italian Olympic Committee and managed the recent Milano-Cortina Winter Games.

The race to lead Italian football is heating up. Giovanni Malagò has received major backing from two powerful groups in the sport. Both the Italian Players’ Association and the Italian Association of Coaches now support his bid to become president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

This news comes after Lega Serie A gave their support to Malagò earlier. The election will happen on June 22. Voters will choose a replacement for Gabriele Gravina, who recently stepped down from the post.

The players’ and coaches’ groups explained their decision. They said they agree with Malagò on several important issues. These include plans for Club Italia, making football more sustainable, and improving the women’s game. They also share his vision for reforming the sport.

The voting system for this election gives different weight to different groups. Serie A clubs hold 18% of the vote. The players’ association controls 20%. Coaches have 10% of the say. Serie B contributes 6%, while Lega Pro has 12%. The amateur league, LND, holds the largest share with 34%.

Malagò brings strong experience to the role. He previously served as president of CONI, Italy’s Olympic committee. He also led the organisation of the recent Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games. With support from both players and coaches, he now looks well-placed to win the election.