Gravina on the referees case: “Mud is thrown without knowing anything”

With football grappling with a new storm (which fortunately is taking on less worrying contours than feared), the resigning president of the FIGC, Gabriele Gravina, returns to speak. Guest of Lilli Gruber on “Otto e mezzo”, on La 7, the (almost) former number one of the Federation declared: “I was not forced to resign, in the most absolute way. It was my personal choice. I had made a commitment to all the Italian fans to go to the World Cup and unfortunately I did not keep faith with this commitment. It was right to resign. I am not inclined to be pressured, I think with my head and my clarity, and this was an act of responsibility towards the Federation. All kinds of institutional hysteria was taking place, it was best not to overexpose the FIGC.”

scapegoat

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On his position he said: “I don’t think I have failed. If we talk about small episodes, of course, I have failed, but if we want to talk about the activity in all its forms and the projects carried out, our Federation is among the most appreciated in Europe”. And again: “The Italians attribute responsibilities to the FIGC that it doesn’t have, there are confusions of roles. We didn’t go to the World Cup three times and the pattern is the same, looking for a scapegoat. Everyone is convinced that the national team players depend on the FIGC, but there are championships, leagues and certain rules, laws and statutes that must be respected. You can’t activate a reform mechanism if everyone doesn’t agree.”

the commissionership

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As for the commissionership claimed by politicians: “It is against the autonomy of sport, the statutes, UEFA and FIFA. I have heard talk of commissionership for changes that they could make independently. The relationship between sport and politics is closer than one might imagine. Sport is economy, identity, culture. I understand that the politician has an interest in addressing such a wide audience, but there is a need for autonomy. If you try to invade the field of others you are implementing the principle of rupture and institutional rupture.”

on lotito

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Then a jab at Claudio Lotito: “Does it seem normal to you that someone who is president of Lazio, who was in the Federal Council for twenty years before being defeated two years ago, and who is now talking about a disaster, participates in the Senate Culture Commission? I hear talk about the modification of law 91/1981 which has been repealed and about the ‘sporting restriction’, which this government has removed. There is something that doesn’t add up. We ask for respect for football.”

the national team

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Gravina also spoke about the national team: “We are evaluating the work of the Federation on the basis of just one national team, but there are many, both men’s and women’s… Gattuso? For me he was absolutely the right man. He was the best, at that moment we needed someone who could make the kids rediscover their values ​​and attachment to the shirt, but unfortunately the sporting result was lacking. The repechage? It seems like a fanciful and shameful idea to me. We are negotiating on the passion of the Italian fans, who are the only ones who deserve to go to the World Cup.“.

perspectives

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Then a look at the future and the race for the next president: “Malagò and Abete are two excellent managers, but I have made the solemn commitment not to push anyone.” And on the referees case: “Why are we guaranteed only by alternating current? Behind that role of designator there is a man, a life, a family. We should be guaranteed, we are throwing mud without knowing anything.” The closure is on his projects: “Getting into politics? Many have tried to involve me. I don’t deny my orientation, I’m a moderate of the center tending to the left. I’m already involved in politics, no candidacies.”