At the Gran Gala Hearts event, Evelina Schatzer shared her insights from working across 211 federations over nine years, emphasizing teamwork and global perspectives. Fresh from witnessing a women’s soccer match in Saudi Arabia, she highlighted the significant progress in women’s sports there, noting that just five years ago, women were barred from driving and stadiums, while now they have their own tournaments.
Schatzer advocated for sustainability in football, suggesting a FIFA-level salary cap agreement among stakeholders to prevent budget overruns that could harm the sport. She stressed the importance of moving towards financial sustainability in football.
Gabriele Gravina, speaking at the ‘Gran Gala Hearts’, addressed Juventus’s current difficulties, stating:
“Juventus is a significant case for Italian football”
Gravina admitted visiting Juventus’s headquarters and expressed admiration for the club as an ideal model for Italian football, particularly in infrastructure. He acknowledged the stadium’s continued advancement in this area. Despite acknowledging their current results are not ideal, Gravina pointed out the excitement of the Italian league and Juventus’s ongoing competitiveness.
“Juventus’s contribution to the National Team is currently limited”
Gravina mentioned that Juventus still provides important players to the national team, with hopes to reintegrate more soon. He recognized Juventus’s historical contribution of key players and expressed optimism for their continued development of national team-ready talent.
Earlier in the day, Gravina and Abete inaugurated the construction of a FIGC center in Venaria Reale. The ‘Gran Galà Hearts’ event, attended by Juventus representatives Francesco Calvo and player Eva Schatzer, was scheduled to proceed at the Teatro Concordia.