Official: Bianchedi resigns as Italy delegation chief after controversy

Diana Bianchedi has resigned as the FIGC delegation chief for the Italy national team just two months after her appointment on August 9. Her departure comes in the middle of a Nations League campaign amid ongoing governance turmoil within Italian sporting federations. Bianchedi stated that she stepped down to shield the Azzurri squad from pointless media controversy and out of respect for sporting institutions.

Her appointment had been viewed as incompatible with her role as vice president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) due to potential conflicts of interest. The decision followed public remarks from Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi regarding internal disagreements between Bianchedi, fellow CONI vice president Marco Di Paola, and CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio over the national weightlifting federation.