FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
A message sent during the great disappointment for the Italian national team has marked a clear turn: “A shock is needed.” On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, after learning the news from the “Bilino Polje” stadium in Zenica, wrote to Sports Minister Andrea Abodi: “The issue of football must be addressed, a profound change is needed.” The Prime Minister, like the rest of the country, expresses great disappointment at Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup yet again. She discussed the “urgent” first steps with the Minister.
According to the government, the resignation of the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, is "a necessary action", as the situation is considered unstable. It is not an isolated decision, but a common position that, according to sources, is widely supported, from Parliament to public opinion.
The decision seems to have already been made, however the initiative must come from Gravina himself, while for a temporary administration the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) will have to intervene. On Wednesday morning, Minister Abodi issued a harsh statement: “ It is clear to everyone that Italian football must be rebuilt and this process must begin with the renewal of the FIGC’s leadership .”
After the resignation, Gravina stated: " There is a lot of disappointment, but also calm. It was a thoughtful and determined choice ."
The government aims not only for his resignation, but also for the federation to be placed under temporary administration. However, CONI president Luciano Buonfiglio, in an interview with “ Corriere della Sera ”, was reserved about this possibility, a stance that has not been well received by the government. According to Meloni and Abodi, the intervention does not aim to undermine the autonomy of sport, but to reform a sector with a major economic and social impact, including security and investment in infrastructure.
Another worrying indicator is the drop of around 1.5 million in the number of football registrations, a signal of a deeper crisis than the poor results of the team led by Rino Gattuso.
A symbolic expression is also circulating in government circles: one cannot continue playing with a punctured ball. With the departure of Gravina, the first step has been taken, while CONI's action is now awaited, including possible verifications of the federation's finances.
In the run-up to the June 22 elections, several names have been mentioned as possible candidates for the new leadership, including Giovanni Malagò, Roberto Baggio and Paolo Maldini. However, the government has chosen not to get involved in the process. For it, the priority remains to send a strong signal about the seriousness of the situation and the need for a complete reconstruction of the Italian football system.
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