Tavecchio quits as head of FIGC

Carlo Tavecchio has resigned as the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) following Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup.

The 74-year-old confirmed his decision at a news conference following a meeting at the FIGC headquarters in Rome on Monday.

It comes after Italy's failure to qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia.

It was reported the rest of the FIGC board had also agreed to step down, but Tavecchio claims they have refused to do so.

"I resigned as president and I asked the whole of the board to do the same. They didn't," he said.

"My target now is to manage the FIGC for the next 90 days before the elections."

Tavecchio also claimed it was not his decision to appoint Gian Piero Ventura as Italy head coach.

He says the 69-year-old, who left his post last Monday in the wake of the 1-0 aggregate play-off defeat to Sweden, was the choice of former boss Marcello Lippi.

"They say 'Tavecchio chose Ventura'. That's not true. Lippi chose him," he said.

"Am I to blame for something? Yes: I should have changed coach last Monday at half-time."