FIGC president Gabriele Gravina has resigned from his position a few days after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row, ending a reign that began in 2018 and saw him re-elected twice.
The Italian Football Association will hold its general election on June 22nd. The decision was in the air and was announced during an extraordinary meeting among the constituents. All political parties, including Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, had been clamoring for a change at the top.
Gravina received the backing of UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, but it didn’t suffice to change his mind. He became one of the deputy heads of the international body in April 2023, after serving on the executive committee. He had been confirmed in his now former role in February of 2025 with 98,68 percent of the votes.
According to Sky, the early candidates to replace him are Gianluca Abete, who held the position in the past, Serie C commissioner Matteo Marani, and Giovanni Malagò, who recently concluded a long tenure at the helm of the Italian Olympic Committee. His name has been mentioned directly by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, although Serie A has limited power in the election. It’s possible that just one clear frontrunner will emerge during the process.
The next president will pick the new coach and head of the Azzurri delegation. Gennaro Gattuso and Gianluigi Buffon’s contracts are expiring and are unlikely to be re-upped.
Better late than never, as he should have stepped down after the previous flop. He’s done the bare minimum in terms of reforms despite his widespread support. It’s time to get some fresh faces and ideas in there.
