Football, Gravina: ‘Not playing against Israel? Then they would have gone to the World Cup.’

Rome, 16 October (LaPresse) – “Should Italy-Israel not have been played? We play football, should we have lost and suffered a penalty and not gone to the World Cup? And sent Israel, the team they don’t want to participate, to the World Cup? I find it difficult to understand these contortions of a thought that is not mine. Whoever thought this said something very stupid.” These were the words of FIGC President Gabriele Gravina at the end of today’s federal council meeting, regarding the controversy surrounding the Italy-Israel World Cup qualifying match played in Udine and those who argued that the match should not have been played. “We must unite. The atmosphere between Italian and Israeli fans was one of joy and serenity. The winners won and the losers lost, and the same was true of the Israeli federation’s management. Outside, however, the belligerents demolished a city, on the very day that peace was agreed,‘ added Gravina, who described the clashes outside the Friuli stadium as ’caused by individuals who have nothing to do with ProPal or any other group: a gang organised solely to destroy and demolish”.