Heads begin to roll in Italian football after another World Cup qualification failure

Heads have started to roll following Italy’s failure to qualify for a third straight FIFA World Cup. Gabriele Gravina, the head of the Italian football federation (FIGC) and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was the national team’s head of delegation, have resigned from their positions.

Buffon, who lifted the World Cup in 2006, announced his resignation through a social media post. But Gravina, who was in charge of the FIGC since 2018, was asked to step down by the Italian government after Italy’s playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Azzurri have not played in the FIFA World Cup since last playing in 2014.

Gravina was expected to present a report on the ‘state of health of Italian football’ before a Parliamentary committee on April 8, but now that has been cancelled. The federation is expected to hold an extraordinary assembly on June 22 to elect a new chief, 11 days after the World Cup begins. The United States, Canada and Mexico are hosting the World Cup.

“After many years, there is a feeling of great bitterness, but great serenity,” Gravina told reporters after resigning. “I must thank all the federal components who today have shown me great affection, support and closeness today, also insisting that I continue, but my personal choice was made with conviction and careful consideration.”

The 72-year-old Gravina had been elected unopposed in October 2018, replacing Carlo Tavecchio, who resigned a week after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Buffon said in his social media post that he had resigned one minute after the match against Bosnia, but was asked to hold off to give time to reflect.

"Now that President Gravina has chosen to step back, I feel free to do what I sense as an act of responsibility, because, despite my sincere conviction that we built so much in terms of spirit and team with Rino Gattuso and all the collaborators, in the very short time available to the National Team, the main goal was to bring Italy back to the World Cup. And we didn't succeed. It's right to leave it to whoever comes after me the freedom to choose the figure they deem best to fill my role," Buffon posted.