October 23 – Italy has a new federation (FICG) president with Gabriele Gravina (pictured) elected on Monday almost a year after the departure of his predecessor.
The 65-year-old Gravina, a former Serie C president, was the only candidate and received 97.2% of the votes at an election assembly.
Gravina was previously one of three candidates in an unsuccessful January election when, despite four rounds of voting, none of the contenders could win the necessary number of votes.
As a result the ballot was postponed leaving the FIGC in limbo but Gravina stood down from his Lega Pro post last week in preparation for his renewed successful bid.
He succeeds Carlo Tavecchio who resigned last November following the national side’s failure to qualify for the World Cup in Russia
As well as being head of Serie C, Gravina is also known in Italy for his spell as president of Castel di Sangro — a tiny team from a city of 5,000 inhabitants whom during his time at the helm from 1984-96 won five promotions and reached Serie B.
“Gabriele is one of you, someone who wants to change and relaunch Italian soccer,” Gravina said after being elected.
“I want a sustainable football, open to families, with modern and functioning infrastructure and a competitive national team. We have just come off the back of a year of signs of instability and fragmentations. That’s not the game I want. The task is difficult. This is a project that requires a lot of will.”
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