FIGC president Gabriele Gravina recently gave an extensive interview addressing various issues facing Italian football. Speaking with Il Messaggero, Gravina addressed the issue of ultras in Italy football, the Italian national team and the ongoing issue of TV rights.
On his potential re-election:
“I’ve made a commitment. I’ll announce my decision after the November 4th Assembly out of respect for the delegates. I don’t want the statutory modification to be influenced by my candidacy decision. However, I have no intention of leaving Italian football in the hands of those who lack vision and love for the game.”
Regarding the disappointing Euro 2024 campaign:
“We shouldn’t erase such a disappointing European Championship, but use that negative experience to start anew. I keep reminding the players, the coach, and the staff not to repeat the same mistakes. Everyone has taken responsibility, and now the atmosphere is more serene. We’ve changed course.”
On VAR and effective playing time:
“We can make progress with video-assistance technology, soon experimenting in Lega Pro or Serie D where possible. I also believe we need to focus on effective playing time, as we’ve discovered that some teams ended up playing fewer matches due to interruptions.”
Concerning TV rights:
“I believe TV rights will decrease for domestic championships and increase for international competitions, primarily Champions League and Europa League, which will cause problems in the future. We should be ready to accompany this process, rediscovering values like territorial identity and passion for football.”
On missing World Cups:
“It’s my regret. I’ve missed one as president, in 2022, though some attribute the previous one to me as well. Just participating in a World Cup is a showcase for a country, a reason for people to come together. But the prospects are good.”
Addressing the ultras investigation:
“The phenomenon of contamination of certain interests isn’t just Italian. Thanks to technology and artificial intelligence, criminals are being expelled from stadiums. The rest must be done by institutions, primarily the Ministry of the Interior, with whom we’ve always collaborated.”
On foreign ownership:
“I’m not worried about the many foreign owners. It’s globalization. Only in Germany, the model I prefer among foreign ones, the 51% limit of club shares that must be German doesn’t attract foreign investors. Four Serie A clubs are owned by funds that obviously aim at finance, but I’ve had the opportunity to discuss with some foreign owners, and in terms of stadiums, infrastructure, and merchandising, they have an edge that in my opinion can only bring advantages.”
