Italian football has been plunged into fresh turmoil as FIGC President Gabriele Gravina officially resigned on Thursday, following the national team’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
The 72-year-old, who led the federation since 2018, fell on his sword just two days after Italy’s heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica.
Gravina’s exit was swiftly followed by delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon, who announced his resignation on social media, stating it was only fair to allow new leadership to overhaul the system.
The federation has scheduled an extraordinary assembly for June 22 to elect a successor, with former Olympic chief Giovanni Malagò among those touted to take the helm.
Under intense political pressure from Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, Gravina admitted the sport is in a “profound crisis,” contrasting sharply with Italy’s recent success in tennis and winter sports.
The resignation effectively ends Gennaro Gattuso’s tenure as head coach, as the 2006 World Cup winner is now expected to step down before his contract expires this June.
While Gravina’s era included the historic Euro 2020 triumph, it will be defined by the “sporting tragedy” of missing the 2018, 2022, and now 2026 World Cup finals.
Italy’s football infrastructure also remains under fire, with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin warning that the country could lose its Euro 2032 co-hosting rights if stadium improvements aren’t fast-tracked.
