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04/02 08:26 CDT Italy soccer president resigns after Azzurri miss third
straight World Cup
Italy soccer president resigns after Azzurri miss third straight World Cup
By ANDREW DAMPF
AP Sports Writer
ROME (AP) --- Italy's soccer federation president resigned amid political
pressure on Thursday, two days after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third
consecutive World Cup.
Gabriele Gravina's decision will likely lead to the ouster of Italy coach
Gennaro Gattuso, too.
Italy Sports Minister Andrea Abodi called for a change in the country's soccer
leadership after Gravina oversaw two sets of disappointing World Cup qualifiers.
"It's evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled," Abodi
said on Wednesday, "and that process needs to start with new leadership at the
FIGC (federation)."
Italy's chances of reaching this year's tournament in North America ended on
Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying
playoff.
Gravina took charge of the federation in 2018 replacing Carlo Tavecchio, who
also stepped down after Italy failed to reach that year's World Cup.
The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being
eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying
playoffs for the last two World Cups.
Italy's World Cup struggles go back all the way to 2010 and 2014 when it failed
to advance from its group on both occasions.
The Azzurri's last World Cup knockout match was in 2006 when they won the title
by beating France in the final after a penalty shootout.
Gravina did oversee Italy's European Championship trophy in 2021.
An election was called for June 22 to elect a new FIGC president.
Mancini, Inzaghi, Conte, Allegri Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier. The Azzurri then went on a six-match winning streak before losing again to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again. Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri. Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year's World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia's national team. Inzaghi coached Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2024 and now manages Saudi club Al-Hilal. Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli. Allegri is at AC Milan.
Gravina is a UEFA vice president Gravina is also Aleksander Ceferin's top vice president at UEFA. UEFA statutes require that executive committee members are also senior FA officials but Gravina could stay in the UEFA role as a lame duck as long as the FIGC's new leadership doesn't demand his removal. Gravina was re-elected last year by UEFA so he has three more years in his current term. "Gabriele is my first vice president and is very important to me," Ceferin said in Thursday's Gazzetta dello Sport after attending the playoff in Bosnia.
Euro 2032 Besides revitalizing the national team, whoever replaces Gravina will be tasked with getting Italy's dilapidated stadiums ready to host the 2032 European Championship. Italy is slated to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey. "I hope that the infrastructure is ready," Ceferin said. "Otherwise the tournament won't be played in Italy." ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Mancini, Inzaghi, Conte, Allegri Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier. The Azzurri then went on a six-match winning streak before losing again to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again. Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri. Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year's World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia's national team. Inzaghi coached Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2024 and now manages Saudi club Al-Hilal. Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli. Allegri is at AC Milan.
Gravina is a UEFA vice president Gravina is also Aleksander Ceferin's top vice president at UEFA. UEFA statutes require that executive committee members are also senior FA officials but Gravina could stay in the UEFA role as a lame duck as long as the FIGC's new leadership doesn't demand his removal. Gravina was re-elected last year by UEFA so he has three more years in his current term. "Gabriele is my first vice president and is very important to me," Ceferin said in Thursday's Gazzetta dello Sport after attending the playoff in Bosnia.
Euro 2032 Besides revitalizing the national team, whoever replaces Gravina will be tasked with getting Italy's dilapidated stadiums ready to host the 2032 European Championship. Italy is slated to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey. "I hope that the infrastructure is ready," Ceferin said. "Otherwise the tournament won't be played in Italy." ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
