Italian FA chief resigns after World Cup heartbreak

Gabriele Gravina has stepped down as president of the Italian Football Federation following Italy’s failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.

The 72-year-old confirmed his resignation after a meeting at the federation’s headquarters in Rome, bringing an end to mounting pressure after another play-off disappointment.

Italy were eliminated on penalties by Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning they will miss this summer’s tournament in North America.

Gravina had initially planned to wait until a scheduled board meeting to decide his future, but the scale of the setback accelerated his departure.

The FIGC has confirmed that a new presidential election will take place in June, with Giovanni Malago among the potential candidates to take over.

Gattuso to follow?

His exit could also have implications for the national team setup. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso, whose current deal runs until the summer, had previously been backed by Gravina and may now face uncertainty over his own position.

Gravina had been in charge since 2018, taking over on a permanent basis after Carlo Tavecchio resigned in the aftermath of Italy’s play-off defeat to Sweden.

During his tenure, the standout achievement came at Euro 2020, when Italy, managed by Roberto Mancini, won the competition after defeating England at Wembley.

However, repeated failures to reach the World Cup and a disappointing European Championship defence ultimately undermined his position.

Gravina also drew criticism for recent comments comparing football to other sports in Italy, despite the nation’s success across multiple disciplines, including strong medal hauls at both Winter and Summer Olympic Games.