Soccer: Tavecchio not backing down, FIFA demands probe

(ANSA) - Rome, July 28 - Carlo Tavecchio said Monday that he was not dropping his bid to become the president of the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) after causing a racism storm by suggesting some Serie A clubs had "banana-eating" non-EU players.
    The 71-year-old, the head of Italy's amateur soccer leagues, was speaking after international soccer's governing body FIFA said it was demanding the FIGC open a probe into his remarks.
    "I have the support of the (Italian) leagues," Tavecchio, who is also FIGC vice president, told ANSA. "I'm going ahead with my bid to be president of the FIGC...
    Now let's fight discrimination in sport". Tavecchio sparked the racism storm last week when he was outlining his plans for Italian football if he takes the helm of the federation. The 71-year-old made the remarks when he 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 Pobà', who was eating bananas until recently and then suddenly becomes at 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 looked on course to be elected FIGC chief at an assembly in Rome on August 11, with all of Serie A's clubs willing to back him expect for champions Juventus and AS Roma.
    But Fiorentina and Sampdoria have 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.