Kimi Antonelli’s biting response to Gabriele Gravina following the latter’s resignation as FIGC President
“Amateur sports.” This specific phrase, uttered during a press conference by Gabriele Gravina in reference to Italian athletes competing outside the realm of football, has ignited a firestorm of controversy.
Gravina’s remarks, delivered in the aftermath of the Bosnia-Italy match, were deemed “grave and unacceptable” by numerous athletes across various disciplines. The backlash has seen high-profile figures like Gianmarco Tamberi, Federica Pellegrini, and Gregorio Paltrinieri speak out, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli being the latest to join the fray.
Antonelli’s Rebuttal to Gravina
The Bologna-born Mercedes driver did not pull any punches when addressing Gravina’s Tuesday statements from Zenica. Speaking to Sky Sport F1, the Italian talent expressed his disappointment regarding the national football team’s trajectory before addressing the slight: “It is obviously a shame that we aren’t going to the World Cup again this year“.
“I have a wonderful memory of the Euros: I remember being at a European Championship race in Sarno. After winning the race, my mother and I rushed to the car and drove home as fast as possible because we didn’t want to miss the final”.
““Watching the National Team compete for the European title back then was truly beautiful. Naturally, it was a huge disappointment to see them fail to qualify for the World Cup. It’s even more of a reason for me to try and keep carrying Italy’s flag high in my own field “.
Antonelli concluded with a sharp, ironic jab aimed directly at Gravina’s “amateur” dismissal: “Besides, we only play an ‘amateur sport’ anyway…”
