Racist comments by the head of the
country's amateur soccer leagues Carlo Tavecchio are
"embarrassing" for all of Italy, the American president of the
AS Roma soccer club said Tuesday.
"Our position has been clear from the outset," said James
Pallotta, whose club has opposed Tavecchio's bid to become the
president of the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) despite
causing a storm of controversy by suggesting some Serie A clubs
had "banana-eating" non-EU players.
"We believe these statements are embarrassing and
humiliating for Italy. I do not understand how some clubs can
tolerate it," added Pallotta.
"He is not our president of the federation".
One day earlier, Tavecchio apologized for his comments
after international soccer's governing body FIFA said it was
demanding the FIGC open a probe into his remarks.
"I was wrong," he said late Monday.
"I'm sorry and I apologized," Tavecchio added, but said he
would not give up.
"I have the support of the (Italian) leagues," said
Tavecchio, who is also FIGC vice president.
"I'm going ahead with my bid to be president of the FIGC...
Now let's fight discrimination in sport".
Tavecchio sparked the controversy last week when he made
the comments about "banana-eating" players as he was outlining
his plans for Italian football if he takes the helm of the
federation.
He called 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 Pobà', who was
eating bananas until recently and then suddenly becomes a
starter with Lazio".
The comments led to calls for Tavecchio to drop his bid to
become FIGC chief, including from senior members of Premier
Matteo Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party (PD).
Italian soccer has a big problem with racism on the
terraces, so many argued Tavecchio will now have no credibility
to fight this problem if he does take the job.
Tavecchio had appeared to be on course to be elected FIGC
chief at an assembly in Rome on August 11, with all Serie A
clubs willing to back him except for champions Juventus and AS
Roma.
But Fiorentina and Sampdoria have also pulled their support
for him as a result of his remarks.
"We cannot go on like this," Sampdoria Chairman Massimo
Ferrero told ANSA on Monday.
"The Serie A League cannot pretend nothing has happened.
The chairmen must meet as soon as possible and revise our
position".
Tavecchio's only rival for the FIGC presidency is former AC
Milan and Italy midfielder Demetrio Albertini, who is also a
vice president of the federation.
The post is vacant after Giancarlo Abete quit following
Italy's group-stage exit from the World Cup last month.
Earlier Tuesday, Italy's former integration minister Cecile
Kyenge on Tuesday denounced Tavecchio's comments and said he
should be held accountable for making racist remarks.
"Tavecchio's words are out of place, racist, and must be
sanctioned," Kyenge, a frequent target of racist remarks as
Italy's first black cabinet minister, said during a radio
program.
"Tavecchio has slipped on a banana peel," she quipped.
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