“The Euro in Rome is a sign of a return to normalcy”

Gabriele Gravina proudly witnessed the premiere of the Eurocup in Rome. The president of the Italian Football Federation strongly opted to keep the matches in the capital, the first of a big event in Italy since 1990. In AS he analyzes what it meant for the FIGC and the next objectives.

– President, the European Championship started in Rome, as you wanted.

– It is a sign of the return to normality. Despite difficulties and limitations, we wanted to maintain this commitment, turning it into a message of hope for the entire country. We are proud to present ourselves to Europe and the world with Rome.

– Will Euro2020 be the beginning of the definitive return of the tifosi to the stadiums?

– We are working so that they are open from the first day of next season. Football without tifosi loses its soul.

– Will the matches in Rome be an advance for the candidacy for Euro2028?

– The FIGC aims to bid for a future great event. We are going to study all the possibilities so that Italy does not have to wait 30 years again.

– The illusion for the tournament coincides with that of the Nazionale.

– The work of Mancini and the entire 'Club Italia' is the flagship of the Federation. We have brought tifosi and azzurri closer together and extending the coach's contract until 2026 we are sure we can aim for a success.

– A year ago he told AS that, with the pandemic, he feared devastating consequences for football. Are you safe yet?

– We avoid bankruptcy, but there are still problems both professionally, amateur and youth. I am worried about the loss of affiliates under 18, we must recover them. There are 200,000 fewer boys playing soccer.

– What measures does football need to end its crisis?

– We are still in emergency, we must increase resources and reduce costs. The level of indebtedness is worrying and in Italy we recently approved a rule that follows exactly this principle.

– Why do you think introducing the playoffs is the way to relaunch the domestic leagues?

– I am very much in favor of the playoffs, but it is simplistic to speak only about this. The reform of the system must aim, first of all, at sustainability and then at making the product more attractive.

– The founders of the Superliga denounced the lack of interest of the youngest towards football. How would you react to that?

– Offering young people more opportunities to participate and proposing a less glazed and more popular image of our sport. We must create new opportunities to bring the little ones closer to the game: those who play it are linked in the long term. On the other hand, if we only perceive them as consumers, we would end up being harmed by other forms of entertainment.

– The legal battle of Juve, Madrid and Barça continues. Is your absence in Serie A, LaLiga and Champions a plausible scenario?

– I hope that does not happen and we will see what decision the competent bodies will make. One thing is for sure: to be together, you have to respect the rules that we gave ourselves both nationally and internationally.