Carlo Tavecchio was elected the
new president of the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) at an
assembly in Rome on Monday despite having caused a huge racism
row with his comments about "banana-eating" non-EU players.
The 71-year-old prevailed in the third ballot with 63.3% of
the votes.
"I will be everyone's president, especially those who
expressed their dissent," a tearful Tavecchio said upon hearing
the news.
"I will try to improve my rough and unglamorous ways, as
someone once rightfully said".
The head of Italy's amateur soccer leagues, Tavecchio had a
majority of the votes of the FIGC delegates, despite opposition
from many Serie A sides, including champions Juventus and fellow
giants AS Roma.
Tavecchio sparked the racism storm last month when calling
for tighter restrictions on non-EU players in Italian soccer.
"In England, they identify the players coming in and, if
they are professional, they are allowed to play," Tavecchio
said.
"Here, on the other hand, we get 'Opti Poba', who was
eating bananas until recently and then suddenly becomes at
starter with Lazio".
Italian soccer has a big problem with racism on the
terraces, so many, including top players such as Roma and Italy
midfielder Daniele De Rossi, argued Tavecchio now lacks the
credibility to fight this problem.
A member of Premier Matteo Renzi's centre-left Democratic
Party (PD) said last week that a petition calling on Tavecchio
to drop his bid has attracted over 26,000 signatures.
The banana comments hit the headlines worldwide and
international soccer's governing body, FIFA, called on the FIGC
to investigate them.
But the support of the delegates from Italy's lower and
amateur leagues was unmoved by the storm.
The FIGC top job is vacant after Giancarlo Abete quit
following Italy's group-stage exit from the World Cup in June If
elected, one of Tavecchio's first tasks will be to find a new
national team coach after Cesare Prandelli - now at the helm of
Istanbul side Galatasaray - quit on the same day as Abete.
Overcoming the divisions that emerged during the FIGC
presidential campaign to solve Italian soccer's many deep-rooted
problems - including crowd violence, poor facilities and the
declining international competitiveness of its clubs - will be
more difficult.
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