UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin believes “all football lovers” missed Italy at the World Cup.
The Azzurri failed to qualify for the first time since 1958, losing to Sweden in a play-off and watching from home as France lifted the trophy.
“I know the enormous disappointment you felt after missing out on the last World Cup,” Ceferin said at an event at the Quirinal Palace in Rome.
“It wasn’t only Italians who suffered for your absence though, but all football lovers.
UEFA President Aleksandar Ceferin believes “all football lovers” missed Italy at the World Cup.
The Azzurri failed to qualify for the first time since 1958, losing to Sweden in a play-off and watching from home as France lifted the trophy.
“I know the enormous disappointment you felt after missing out on the last World Cup,” Ceferin said at an event at the Quirinal Palace in Rome.
“It wasn’t only Italians who suffered for your absence though, but all football lovers.
“To make sure that doesn’t happen again you need to make immediate decisions. You need to invest in infrastructure.
“A new stadium isn’t an expense but a profitable investment as my friend [Juventus President] Andrea Agnelli understood first.
“You can’t just live on the past, and investing in infrastructure and give yourselves more chance to host tournaments in the future.
“You have the full support of UEFA, we believe in you, your directors and your football.”