Italian national team players requested qualification bonus before Bosnia match

According to a report by La Repubblica, players of the Italian national football team requested a collective bonus of 300,000 euros prior to their crucial playoff match against Bosnia. This sum was intended to be distributed among 28 players, amounting to approximately 10,000 euros per person, contingent upon securing qualification for the World Cup. The Italian Football Federation declined the request. Gennaro Gattuso, who served as coach at the time, intervened and urged the players to halt negotiations. Gattuso insisted that the squad should focus exclusively on the match and earn the bonus only after achieving qualification. The coach, who resigned following the team's failure to qualify in Sarajevo, criticized the timing of the players' demands. This report has drawn significant public criticism toward the national team players regarding their professional attitude during a high-stakes fixture.