“I feel free now”
Resignations Following World Cup Disgrace! Leadership Shakeup in Italy
Italian soccer is in turmoil. Two days after the embarrassing failure to qualify for the World Cup in the playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Federation President Gabriele Gravina and Sports Director Gianluigi Buffon resigned. Coach Gennaro Gattuso is likely to be next...
Following the failure to qualify for the World Cup—the third in a row—numerous top politicians, including Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, had called for Gravina’s resignation. “It is obvious that Italian soccer needs to be rebuilt. This process must begin with a renewal of the federation’s leadership. I consider it unfair to deny responsibility for Italy’s third consecutive World Cup failure,” the politician said.
After the second-largest governing party, the Lega, also spoke out against the federation president, he announced his resignation. His successor is to be appointed at an extraordinary federation meeting on June 22.
Buffon also stepped down
Sports director Buffon also stepped down. “Now that President Gravina has resigned, I feel free to do what I believe is the responsible thing.” Despite all his conviction and efforts, he said, he had not succeeded in leading Italy back to a World Cup.
“Representing the national team is an honor and a passion that has been with me since childhood,” added the former national team goalkeeper: “I carry all of this in my heart and am grateful for the privilege and the lessons that this intense experience—despite its painful aftermath—has taught me.”
As soccer insider Fabrizio Romano wrote on his social media channels, head coach Gennaro Gattuso is likely to be the next to step down.
Spectators for the third time
Italy was defeated by Bosnia in a penalty shootout during Tuesday’s playoff match, thus missing out on the World Cup in North America. Our neighbors were already absent from the world’s biggest soccer stage in 2018 and 2022.
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