Gravina Resigns After Italy Misses Third Consecutive World Cup
Gabriele Gravina has stepped down as the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) following Italy's failure to qualify for a third successive World Cup. The four-time world champions were eliminated after losing 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-off final on Tuesday.
This marks the first time a former World Cup winner has missed three consecutive tournaments, with Italy having previously failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Buffon Also Quits Role with Men's National Team
On Thursday, former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who had been serving as delegation head for the men's national team, announced his resignation via Instagram. Buffon, a member of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, stated that following Gravina's decision to resign, he felt compelled to do the same as an act of responsibility.
"The main objective was to bring Italy back to the World Cup. And we didn't succeed," Buffon, 48, wrote.
"It's fair to leave it to those who will come after the freedom to choose the figure they think is best to play my role."
Gravina's Tenure and Resignation Details
Gravina, 72, who also serves as UEFA's first vice-president, announced his resignation after a meeting at the FIGC headquarters in Rome. He assumed the presidency in October 2018, succeeding Carlo Tavecchio, who resigned following Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after losing to Sweden in a play-off.
During Gravina's leadership, Italy won the UEFA Euro 2020 championship, defeating England in a penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium. However, the FIGC has come under intense scrutiny following the national team's failure to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Gravina oversaw the appointments of former head coach Luciano Spalletti and current manager Gennaro Gattuso. Prior to his resignation, Gravina informed the media that he had requested Gattuso to remain in his position despite the World Cup qualification failure.
The FIGC has announced that a vote to elect a new president will take place on 22 June. Giovanni Malagò, former head of the Italian Olympic Committee and president of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics organising committee, is among the leading candidates to succeed Gravina.
Captain Donnarumma and National Reaction
Italy's captain, Gianluigi Donnarumma, has pledged to help restore the national team's standing following the disappointment. The Italian public is grappling with what some have termed a "third apocalypse" of World Cup failures.
UEFA President Issues Warning Over Euro 2032 Hosting
Adding to the challenges facing Italian football, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has warned that Italy risks losing its role as co-host of the UEFA European Championship in 2032 unless it upgrades its football infrastructure. Italy is scheduled to co-host the tournament with Turkey, but concerns have been raised regarding the country's outdated stadiums and difficulties faced by clubs in upgrading facilities, often due to disputes with public authorities.
The FIGC must submit five stadiums to UEFA by October to be considered as venues for Euro 2032 matches.
"Euro 2032 is scheduled and will take place. I hope the infrastructure will be ready," Čeferin told the Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Otherwise, the tournament will not be played in Italy."
Čeferin, who had previously supported Gravina before his resignation, stated that the former FIGC president should not be held responsible for Italy's lack of stadium modernization.
"Perhaps it is Italian politicians who should be asking themselves why Italy has some of the worst football infrastructure in Europe," he said.
