Gabriele Gravina declares “I apologise to all Italians” after the FIGC failed to elect a new President.
The head of the Lega Pro was standing for the position against Damiano Tommasi and Cosimo Sibilia, but delegates failed to agree on a new man to lead the Federation.
Sibilia urged the Amateur League delegates to spoil their ballot papers, making a winner impossible, and his rival is furious about those tactics.
Gabriele Gravina declares “I apologise to all Italians” after the FIGC failed to elect a new President.
The head of the Lega Pro was standing for the position against Damiano Tommasi and Cosimo Sibilia, but delegates failed to agree on a new man to lead the Federation.
Sibilia urged the Amateur League delegates to spoil their ballot papers, making a winner impossible, and his rival is furious about those tactics.
“I always worked to ensure there would be a Federation President,” Gravina fumed, speaking to RMC Sport.
“I invested all my energy and having said no to this proposal is a point in my favour, not against me. I have my own dignity, and the fact I’ve consistently made myself available for the world of football over the past few years.
“To think of casting that aside for the mere fact of becoming FIGC President is not how I interpret the rules of the game.
“I’m sorry, and I apologise to all those present and to all Italians. The game should have been played, and played to the end.
“He took his ball and went home, Sibilia instructed to spoil ballots and from then on it was clear there was no game left.
“We’re not talking about the proposals for an agreement, which I define as vulgar: I couldn’t accept the Presidency in spite of a bloc, a package of votes, which went far beyond the Lega Pro.
“This isn’t a defeat for Italian football, but a defeat for the ruling director class.”