In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, UEFA president backs Gravina after Italy’s collapse, warns Euro 2032 could be at risk without major infrastructure changes
As Italy grapples with yet another World Cup failure, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has entered the debate—strongly defending federation chief Gabriele Gravina while shifting blame elsewhere.
His message was blunt: Italy’s problems run deeper than the national team.
“Bosnia deserved it”
Čeferin acknowledged the shock of Italy’s elimination but refused to call it a fluke.
“In a way, yes, it’s surprising,” he said. “But Bosnia is a young, strong team and they played at home. They deserved to qualify.”
He also pointed to the turning point of the match—the red card that changed the balance.
Not Gravina, not Gattuso
While pressure continues to mount on Italy’s leadership, Čeferin made his stance clear.
“This is not Gravina’s responsibility,” he said. “And I wouldn’t attack the players or the coach.”
In fact, he challenged critics directly:
“Tell me—which Italian player wasn’t called up and should have been?”
A direct attack on politics
Čeferin didn’t hold back when addressing the broader context.
“Maybe Italian politicians should ask themselves why Italy has some of the worst football infrastructure in Europe,” he said.
According to the UEFA president, the real issue lies in the disconnect between football authorities and political institutions.
“Critics only appear when things go wrong”
Čeferin also criticized those calling for immediate resignations.
“It makes me angry,” he said. “There are people who stay quiet and wait for something to go wrong, just to come out and criticize.”
“They don’t support Italy—they support themselves.”
Euro 2032 warning
Perhaps the most striking statement concerned the future of Euro 2032, which Italy is set to co-host with Turkey.
“If infrastructure isn’t ready,” Čeferin warned, “the tournament will not be played in Italy.”
A clear message: reform is no longer optional.
A system that must align
Despite the harsh criticism, Čeferin remains optimistic about Italy’s long-term future.
“Italy is one of the great football nations,” he said. “It will return to the top.”
But only under one condition:
“If football politics and national politics align, success will come again.”
A turning point
Italy’s crisis is no longer confined to the pitch.
With UEFA now weighing in, the spotlight is on the entire system—from stadiums to governance.
The message from Europe’s top football authority is clear:
Change—or fall further behind.
READ THE ORIGINAL INTERVIEW IN ITALIAN ON La Gazzetta dello Sport
