Carlo Tavecchio, the favorite to become the next Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president, has been caught up in a racism storm after referring to African players as “banana eaters”. The influx of foreign players has been a hot topic since the national team crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage.
“In England, they identify the players coming in and, if they are professional, they are allowed to play,” Tavecchio said at the summer assembly of Italy’s amateur leagues (LND).
“Here instead we get ‘Opti Pobà’, who previously ate bananas and then suddenly becomes a first team player with Lazio.
“That’s how it is here. In England, you need to demonstrate what you have on your CV and your pedigree.”
Questioned by reporters about the comments afterwards, Tavecchio claimed that he could not remember what he had said in his own speech.
The battle for control of Italian soccer’s governing body comes after the resignation of former president Giancarlo Abete, who stepped down immediately after Italy’s embarrassing early exit from the World Cup.-Reuters
