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FIGC President Gabriele Gravina insists that the Super League is the ‘wrong answer to a real problem’ and comments on UEFA’s decision to end the partnership with Gazprom. The head of the Italian football federation released an interview with Il Corriere della Sera and once again shared his thoughts on the Super League, which, according to Andrea Agnelli, ‘didn’t fail.’
“Our position has not changed, it’s the wrong answer to a real problem. We must be united and we don’t need further divisions,” Gravina said.
Gravina is also part of the UEFA Executive Committee, which ended the partnership with Gazprom after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“I am proud to be part of the committee, there is no competition without ethics, the decision was coherent with what we feel.
“As FIGC, we also decided to postpone the kick-off of games by five minutes during the last weekend and we are working on other initiatives because we are all involved in this war.”
Gabriele Gravina called the new Stadio Artemio Franchi ‘a gift to the city of Florence and Fiorentina’ at the project’s presentation today.
The stadium was built in 1931 and is owned by the Municipality of Florence, rather than Fiorentina themselves. It has been used to host World Cup matches in two different tournaments, back in 1934 and in 1990.
Speaking at the presentation of the new Stadio Artemio Franchi in Palazzo Vecchio today, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina discussed the lack of modern stadiums in Italy and the importance of the work at the stadium in Florence.
“We are a little tied down by excessive bureaucracy and a lack of initiative on the part of the private sector.
“The issue of stadiums is topical, tomorrow is now and we can no longer lose ground if we want to recover all that we have lost. I hope that this initiative will be a stimulus for many other realities.
“Nardella and I have been talking for a long time, and we have managed to put together the history of our football, both for the national team and Fiorentina. This is a gift we are giving to the city, to Fiorentina, to the national team, but also to all the fans of our football.”
The Municipality of Florence unveiled the winning project for the renovations at the Stadio Artemio Franchi earlier today in the Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio. Many notable figures are there, such as former Viola star Gabriele Batistuta, Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini and ex-player Giancarlo Antognoni.
Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso was incredibly keen to build a new stadium in Florence owned entirely by the Viola but he was bogged down by bureaucracy throughout his work.
Gravina asks Serie A to postpone games ahead of Italy World Cup playoff
European champion Italy risks failing to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup after finishing behind Switzerland in its qualifying group, and it faces North Macedonia in a playoff in Palermo on March 24.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has requested the postponement of a round of Serie A fixtures to help the Italy national team in its preparations for the FIFA World Cup playoffs, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said on Monday.
European champion Italy risks failing to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup after finishing behind Switzerland in its qualifying group, and it faces North Macedonia in a playoff in Palermo on March 24.
Gravina is eager to delay the 30th round of Serie A fixtures, scheduled for the weekend of 19-20 March, in order to give the Azzurri as much preparation time as possible.
“We have asked for a postponement, and we hope that the league can grant (Italy coach) Roberto Mancini a few more days,” Gravina told Radio Anch’io Sport.
“It would be another ugly chapter if Italy failed to qualify for an event that symbolises football in our country.”
Italy finished two points behind Switzerland in its qualifying group, as missed penalties by Jorginho in both of its head-to-head meetings, 0-0 and 1-1 draws, proved costly.
The winner of Italy’s first playoff will face either Portugal or Turkey in a winner-takes-all playoff final on March 29 to decide who qualifies for Qatar 2022.
“We need to qualify, we have the conditions to do so. We made it difficult for ourselves by missing two very important penalties. But Italy respond in moments of difficulty,” Gravina said.
