2 min learnApr 9, 2026 01:30 AM IST
Italy’s outgoing soccer chief on Wednesday known as for diverting betting income into youth improvement and infrastructure to revive a sport in deep disaster after the nationwide staff did not qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row. The proposals by Gabriele Gravina, who resigned as head of the federation (FIGC) on April 2, purpose to map a method out of the historic low level for the four-time World Cup winners that has sharpened criticism of your entire Italian soccer system.
Gravina argued that the Azzurri’s repeated sporting failures are the results of long-standing structural weaknesses quite than short-term errors. His report proposed channelling a part of the wealthy playing proceeds linked to the game into grassroots programmes and academies, in addition to on badly wanted funding on new or upgraded soccer arenas. He additionally proposed abolishing a ban on betting promoting and sponsorships launched in 2018, in an try and curb playing habit in a rustic that’s house to Europe’s largest playing market.
The FIGC report stated a significant downside was the marginal function performed by Italians within the top-flight Serie A, the place foreigners account for some 68% of minutes performed, among the many highest share in Europe.
The pathway for youthful gamers is even narrower, with Below-21 Italian gamers accounting for lower than 2% of whole Serie A taking part in time, it stated.
To reverse the pattern, the federation proposed monetary incentives for golf equipment that discipline younger and Italian gamers, stronger funding in youth academies and quicker approval processes for brand spanking new or redeveloped stadiums.
Technical decline is compounded by a fragile monetary mannequin, the FIGC warned. Skilled Italian soccer loses greater than 700 million euros ($818.37 million) a 12 months, with excessive debt ranges and a historical past of golf equipment collapsing or being excluded from competitions.
The report concluded that lasting restoration would require coordinated motion throughout the game, warning that management adjustments or remoted reforms alone wouldn’t be sufficient to revive Italian soccer’s competitiveness. Gravina’s successor is because of be elected in June. After Italy’s shock defeat to Bosnia, nationwide staff supervisor Gennaro Gattuso and staff delegation head Gianluigi Buffon additionally stepped down.