Italian goalkeeper criticized for 'unsportsmanlike conduct' during penalty shootout against Bosnia

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma faces criticism after being accused of "unsportsmanlike conduct" during a penalty shootout that led to Italy's defeat against Bosnia & Herzegovina and their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

This was a disappointing match for coach Gennaro Gattuso and his team, as Italy lost 1-4 in the penalty shootout, marking their third consecutive missed World Cup qualification.

During the decisive penalty shootout, Francesco Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante both missed their shots, before Esmir Bajraktarevic successfully scored the winning penalty, securing Bosnia & Herzegovina's first World Cup appearance since 2014.

However, the focus of the match shifted to the controversial action involving Donnarumma and Bosnia's goalkeeper, Nikola Vasilj. Immediately after Esposito's missed penalty, a heated argument erupted between the two goalkeepers, sparking curiosity about the cause of this tense situation.

According to BILD, Donnarumma sneaked into Vasilj's goal area and took a note listing the preferred shooting directions of Italian players prepared by the Bosnia & Herzegovina goalkeeper. Furthermore, the Italian goalkeeper is accused of tearing or damaging this note.

“The note was clearly damaged. It appears Donnarumma intentionally tore it,” BILD reported.

Referee Clement Turpin had to intervene to calm the situation. Despite this, Donnarumma fortunately did not receive a second yellow card and remained in the game. However, his actions proved ineffective as Italian players continued to miss their penalties, leading to the overall defeat.

After the match, coach Gattuso expressed disappointment and emotion regarding Italy's missed opportunity to participate in the World Cup hosted in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

“The players deserved better, given all their effort, passion, and determination. We had three opportunities, and most of their crosses weren’t very dangerous,” Gattuso shared with RAI Sport. “I am still proud of the players. If someone stabbed me with a knife today, I probably wouldn’t bleed anymore. This is crucial for Italian football, and it’s painful to be eliminated in this manner.”

Gattuso also refused to blame the referee: “I don’t want to talk about the referee or anything else. Football is like this. I’ve been in football for many years, experiencing victories and heavy defeats like today. But it’s hard to accept. I was also surprised by the fighting spirit shown by the players. We were pressured as if in trenches, yet we must once again discuss not qualifying for the World Cup. Personally, I apologize for not helping the team secure a World Cup spot, but the players gave everything.”