Italy’s Sports Minister Andrea Abodi has called for the resignation of the head of the country’s football federation following Italy’s failure to qualify for a third straight FIFA World Cup.
The Azzurri were eliminated again after losing a play-off on penalties against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, meaning they will miss the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
While FIGC president Gabriele Gravina has said he will not step down, a board meeting scheduled for next week is expected to determine his future.
Abodi stressed that Italian football requires a complete rebuild, beginning with leadership changes at the top of the federation.
His remarks come amid growing tension between the Italian government and Gravina, who criticised what he sees as a lack of state support for football after the defeat.
Gravina also described other sports as “amateur” and “state sports” due to the large number of athletes employed by military and police institutions.
Italy has recently enjoyed success across multiple sports, including a record medal haul at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and strong performances at the Paris 2024 Summer Games, alongside achievements from tennis star Jannik Sinner.
Abodi rejected Gravina’s stance, saying it was wrong to dismiss responsibility for Italy’s repeated World Cup failures while also undermining the professionalism of other sports.
Speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida and other athletes also reacted critically to Gravina’s comments on social media.
