Italy’s football president urged to resign following recent World Cup disappointment.
Italy’s sports minister has urged the president of the country’s soccer federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, to step down following the four-time world champions’ failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup on Tuesday.
The Azzurri’s defeat in a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina, ranked 66th, during the qualifying playoffs follows their elimination at the same stage by Sweden prior to the 2018 World Cup and by North Macedonia in 2022.
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“It is clear to everyone that Italian soccer requires a complete overhaul,” stated Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, “and that transformation must begin with new leadership at the FIGC.”
Gravina continues to retain his position after previously surviving the qualifying elimination for the 2022 World Cup.
“Next week we will engage in much deeper reflections regarding the situation,” Gravina remarked, suggesting he might call for a new election for the top soccer role in the country. “There are numerous evaluations to take into account.”
Italy’s coach Gennaro Gattuso has not yet indicated his own future after taking over following the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti after Italy’s loss in their opening qualifier against Norway last year.
“I am not at all interested in discussing my future today,” Gattuso stated after the defeat in Bosnia. “It hurts, it truly hurts. More than it hurting me, it pains me to see this group that has genuinely given everything in recent months, and I believe we deserved to reap the rewards of our efforts. Honestly, I think it is too simplistic and immature to be discussing my future today.”
Gattuso was contracted until the conclusion of this summer’s World Cup, with an automatic extension until 2028 if Italy qualified for the tournament in North America.
Even though Gattuso has not decided whether to continue, the Italian soccer federation clearly indicated its desire for him to remain on Tuesday.
“I must commend Gattuso. I believe he has been an excellent coach; he is a great coach, and I have asked him to continue leading these players,” Gravina stated.
The challenges facing Italian soccer go beyond the national team.
The last Italian club to secure the Champions League title was Inter Milan in 2010; in this season’s continental tournament, all four Italian clubs were eliminated prior to the quarterfinals.
Former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi added: “Regrettably, the third consecutive elimination from the World Cup is not an April Fool’s joke. It signifies that Italian soccer has faltered. Soccer is not merely entertainment in our country; it is an integral part of our culture and national identity.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
