UEFA threatens Italy with sanctions and warns against political interference in the Football Association sports

The European Football Association (UEFA) has warned against appointing a commissioner to run the Italian Football Federation, considering that this step may expose Italy to losing its right to host the European Nations Cup (Euro 2032), and may also lead to the exclusion of its clubs from continental participation, according to what media reports reported on Tuesday.

UEFA waves sanctions against Italy

UEFA stressed the need for there to be no political interference in the Italian Football Federation presidential elections, scheduled for next June 22.

These developments come in the wake of the outbreak of a new arbitration scandal in Italy, weeks after the resignation of Federation President Gabriele Gravina, against the backdrop of the Italian team’s exit from the 2026 World Cup qualifying round. This prompted the Italian Minister of Sports, Andrea Abudi, to propose exceptional measures, including the appointment of an external commissioner to manage the Federation.

According to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, this scenario raises great concern for UEFA, which warned that any political interference in the affairs of the Italian Federation could lead to serious consequences, including withdrawing the right to host Euro 2032, in addition to the possibility of excluding Italian clubs from European tournaments.

The appointment of a commissioner by the Italian Olympic Committee means effectively placing the federation under direct management, which is what UEFA seeks to avoid.

The report indicated that Italian League President Ezio Maria Simonelli discussed the issue with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.

Although an official statement has not been issued yet, the European Union’s position seems clear, and it may have major repercussions if the appointment of a commissioner goes ahead instead of electing a new president.