Italy's Sports Minister Calls for Football Chief's Resignation

On Wednesday, Italy's sports minister Andrea Abodi urged Gabriel Gravina, the head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), to resign after the national football team failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time. The Azzurri's latest setback occurred during a penalty shootout against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As a result, Italy will miss the upcoming World Cup scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Gravina has not resigned and a board meeting is set for next week to decide his future.

Abodi emphasized the need for a complete overhaul of Italian football, stating that it requires rebuilding from the ground up. His comments come amid criticism of Gravina's leadership, particularly regarding the perceived lack of support for professional football in Italy.

Abodi's statements reflect the sentiments of the current Italian government led by Giorgia Meloni, which has been critical of the state of sports in the country.