Baggio quits Italian Football Federation
The former Azzurri striker and 1993 Ballon d'Or winner has resigned as technical director after his proposals for reform were not implemented by the governing body
Jan 24, 2013 1:00:00 AM
By Barney Cullum
Roberto Baggio has resigned from his role with the Italian football federation after claiming his recommendations for improving the national game were ignored.
Baggio was tasked with restoring direction to Italian football after Marcelo Lippi's World Cup holders flopped in their defence of their title at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
The former Juventus and Inter star said the federation had shown apathy towards his plans for over a year.
"I presented my project in December 2011, 900 pages, but they remained empty words," the 45-year-old told Italian television.
"I don't like just sitting on a chair but [rather] to do things, therefore reluctantly I have decided to leave," Baggio said.
In October Baggio made his frustrations known in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
He said: "So far there has only been one successful initiative, a well-attended course in Tuscany that was free and well attended by clubs from Pisa and Pontedera."
