Article by Ovidiu Ioanițoaia – Published on Thursday, 02 April 2026, 15:40 / Updated on Thursday, 02 April 2026 15:40
There is commotion in the countries whose national teams missed out on the North American World Cup this summer. Everywhere else the selectors and even the presidents of the federations are being asked to leave. For example, in Italy, the four-time world champion who will miss the final tournament for the third time in a row, signatures are being collected in the Senate in Rome for the dismissal of the head of Federcalcio, Gabriele Gravina.
This is not just anyone, he is also the vice-president of UEFA. The Sports Minister himself, Andrea Abodi, publicly stated: “I want more dignity from Gravina and to resign”, but the person in question, in office since 2018, does not hear or see. On top of that, he wants to continue, but also to keep Gennaro Gattuso on the bench of the Squadra Azzurra!
Here, however, even though Răzvan Burleanu has led the FRF since 2014 and was re-elected in March at the 4th Congress, there is silence, there is peace. Surrounded by an army of yes-men, the most beloved son of Romanian football is preparing to appoint a new coach. Which will probably be Gică Hagi.
It doesn't even occur to Burleanu to consider himself a participant in the collapse of the national team, complicit in the fall to 56th place in the FIFA ranking. Only once in history has it been worse, in 2012, when it occupied the 57th position. After the recent defeats to Turkey and Slovakia, Romania lost 7 places, which does not worry Burleanu. Who decided that he and only he has the competence to appoint the successor of the legendary Mircea Lucescu at the helm of the “tricolors”. Competence of the incompetent, don't you think?
In his well-known fireman's style, Napoleon from FRF, reference to the undersigned's article of March 19, does not cease to deceive us, at the same time, with the great benefits brought by the U21 Rule and, in a wider sense, by the numerous junior representative teams, U15, 16, 17, etc., established by him at the recommendation of UEFA. A devotee of quantity to the detriment of quality, he even established the respective teams and allocated funds to them. However, it is difficult to say if and what they will serve concretely. What horizons will open.
Because, forgive me, what has the U21 Rule helped since today in the Super League there are more foreign players in 16 teams (231) than there were in 2014 in 18 (199)! How did the “innovation” achieve its goal of identifying, growing and promoting the young native element? Answer: no way!
Indeed, Romania U17 qualified yesterday, for the first time ever, at the WC in Qatar. Mircea Diaconescu and his students are to be congratulated, well done! So much so that the same team missed the EC, ignoring the fact that 48 teams will participate in the final world tournament in the fall.
Hence the conclusion that the sieve was not that thick. In the same vein and without insisting now, it is necessary to state that the Under 18 national team finished tied with Denmark in Clinceni, 2-2, given that 13 of the 20 players summoned by Ion Marin came from abroad! Including scorers Pellegrini from Genoa and Roates from Levante. And then, don't get upset, what's all the fuss that the U21 Rule is doing, that it saved the future of our football, if not the present too?!
Yes, it is also my opinion that the U21 player should not be given up. The rule is worth applying, but not in its current format. Clubs should not be forced to use an under 21, who would otherwise not make the team, but encouraged to do so, rewarded. The federation should find solutions and create a budget from which to reward the formations that use young footballers, depending on the minutes ticked by them.
It would behoove the FRF to give more, not just take. So much so that, although he receives significant amounts from UEFA, he always complains that he doesn't have it. According to the financial report for 2025, presented in the General Assembly on March 18, FRF made during the previous year total payments of 344 million lei. Of them, 218 million, about 43 million euros, do not appear explained, but sent to the heading “other amounts paid”, without supporting documentation! GSP reported and asked FRF, in writing, what about that money? In a week he received no reply. Silence.
You will say, of course, that the Federation does not take money from the state and it is its business how it handles it. In principle, it is so. However, if the amounts in question had fiscal obligations, so they had to be taxed, then there is a risk that the FRF will have a problem. A serious one indeed.
