After elimination by the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team and stepping down from his position as the head of the Federation, Gabriele Gravina decided to speak publicly in a manner that sparked numerous reactions. Instead of taking responsibility, the former top figure in Italian football shifted the blame onto the players.
Gravina left his role at the helm of the Italian Football Federation after eight years, faced with another failure and elimination in the World Cup playoffs. In an interview with Italian media, he clearly stated that he does not consider himself responsible for the poor results.
"My failure? Maybe I should have been a better footballer," Gravina said, then added, "Maybe I missed two penalties against Switzerland, three big chances against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then sent one penalty over the bar and hit the crossbar with another."
At the same time, Gravina defended former coach Gennaro Gattuso. "Gattuso is an excellent coach and a great person. He had little time to work, but he gave the team energy and character. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough," he said.
With such statements, he essentially shifted all responsibility onto the national team players, sparking further controversy in Italian public opinion. The third consecutive absence from the World Cup has caused a real earthquake in Italian football, with growing calls for deep and systemic changes.
Giovanni Malagò is being mentioned as a possible new Federation president, while a new coach is also being sought. The main candidate for that position is Antonio Conte, although other big names are also in consideration.
Speculation has also emerged that Italy could still participate in the World Cup in case of a potential withdrawal by Iran, but such a scenario is not realistic for now.
What is certain is that Gravina’s statements have not calmed the situation; on the contrary, they have further deepened the crisis and the divide between the Federation and the national team.