Italy suffered yet another debacle, missing out on the World Cup for the third consecutive time, and the President of the Federation, Gabriele Gravina, is now at the center of the most serious crisis of his tenure. The 72-year-old official, who has led the federation since 2018 and had previously stated that "I am like a reed, hard to break," now seems to be tested like never before after the elimination.
He is asking for time to assess the situation and discuss it with the Federal Council, but within a few hours, many are demanding his resignation.
Gabriele Gravina never allowed others to decide for him, but in a climate of intense disappointment, many wonder if he has the strength to continue.
In recent months, the president of the federation had not revealed his intentions.
Some carefully worded statements left open the possibility of developments. "If the future of the federation is linked to that of the national team? There is no such regulation.
Democracy operates internally, and I received 98% of the votes," he had said at the end of November, adding however that "there are thoughts related to responsibility and personal choices."
The decision, therefore, remains in his hands. The discussion with the Federal Council will be crucial.
From 2018 until today, Gravina has endured many storms: sporting failures, the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing legal adventures. Each time he managed to return stronger.
But what happened this time in Zenica is an extremely heavy blow. Disappointment in Italy is intense, and anger is widespread. The question now is one: will he withstand this storm too?
Italy's elimination is not only a sporting failure but also a significant financial blow for the Federation.
Qualification for the World Cup was estimated to bring in approximately 30 million euros in revenue from participation bonuses, commercial agreements, and sponsorships.
With the elimination, this money is lost, affecting the federation's budget.
In fact, President Gravina had pointed out that participation in the World Cup would significantly improve the finances for 2026.