Italy’s football leadership has been thrown into crisis following the resignation of Gabriele Gravina as president of the Italian Football Federation, just days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA World Cup.
Gravina stepped down on Thursday amid mounting political and public pressure, marking a significant turning point for Italian football. His exit is widely expected to prompt further changes, including the potential departure of national team coach Gennaro Gattuso.
The call for sweeping reforms intensified after Italy’s Sports Minister, Andrea Abodi, openly demanded a restructuring of the country’s football leadership.
“It’s evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled,” Abodi stated on Wednesday. “That process must begin with new leadership at the federation.”
Italy’s World Cup hopes were dashed on Tuesday following a penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff, extending a troubling run of failures on the global stage. The Azzurri had previously missed out on the 2018 and 2022 tournaments after playoff losses to Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively.
Gravina, who assumed office in 2018 after the resignation of Carlo Tavecchio under similar circumstances, leaves behind a mixed legacy. While he presided over Italy’s triumphant victory at the UEFA European Championship in 2021, the team’s repeated World Cup setbacks have overshadowed that success.
Italy’s struggles at the World Cup date back over a decade, with early exits in the group stages of the 2010 and 2014 editions. Their last major triumph remains the 2006 World Cup, where they defeated France in the final via a dramatic penalty shootout.
A new chapter is set to begin, with elections scheduled for June 22 to appoint a new federation president. Meanwhile, Gravina is expected to appear before parliament next week to address concerns surrounding the state and future of Italian football.
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