Federnuoto, Rampelli excluded from the race for the presidency. The appeal arrives –

Clash over the presidency of the Federnuoto. The vice president of the Chamber of Deputies Fabio Rampelli, a member of Fratelli d’Italia, tells the story of the situation: «I received from the Italian Swimming Federation the communication of the exclusion of the candidacy for the presidency, for having presented it after the deadline, even if after the deadline there was only the correction to a presentation submitted within the deadline. I would like to point out, without any controversy, that the decision was made by the general secretary, directly appointed by the outgoing President. Just to make it clear how many anomalies exist in the Federnuoto that need to be reformed. I will certainly present an appeal, which will however be examined by a body also appointed by the outgoing President, just to confirm the previous doubts».

“However – he continues – I want to be optimistic and hope that one of the most important sports federations in Italy can have a challenger and not a single candidate as happens in North Korea. I remain with humility to do my job, available to a world that deserves transparency, fairness, modernization, efficiency, support for grassroots societies and democracy. In fact, no one can arrogantly say: ‘Rampelli will never make the president of Fin’ because the vote is the prerogative of sports societies only. Just as it is vulgar – he underlines again – to exploit Olympic medals: it is known that the successes of athletes are achieved with training and with the sacrifices of societies and technicians. My reference to the word ‘humility’ is not accidental given the lapses in style of these hours. I would like to point out that I have never stopped frequenting the circuit of aquatic sports, for which I have also fought in the institutional role that I hold. Perhaps I have done it more from the pools than from the buildings of Fin, but this gratifies me. I must point out that I care about democracy which, as the laws for the election of mayors and governors testify, is based on alternation while a president who has a ‘perpetual mandate’ cannot offer any guarantee of balance and transparency. This is demonstrated by the suspension for over a year by the International Federation and the definitive conviction by the Court of Auditors. However, if the ‘judges within the Federation’ come to confirm my definitive exclusion, I will transform myself into a living blank ballot aimed at preventing the outgoing candidate from achieving 67% to go with new plural candidacies after 60 days. It will be an impersonal campaign – Rampelli concludes after the broadsides to Paolo Barelli – like those that push midfielders like, even more fascinating, even more effective”.