Sacchi sparks new racism storm for Italian soccer - update
(ANSA) - Rome, February 17 - Former Azzurri and AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi is at the centre of a new racism storm for Italian soccer after suggesting there were too many foreign black players in professional clubs' youth teams here.
"I'm certainly not racist, as my past as a coach shows, starting with (ex-Milan and Netherlands midfielder Frank) Rijkaard, but after seeing the Viareggio Cup (for youth teams), I say that there are too many players of colour, too many foreigners, even in the academy sides," Sacchi said. "Italy has no dignity, it has no pride.
It's not possible to see squads with 15 foreign players".
Italian football has been dogged by repeated episodes of racism on the terraces in recent years and Carlo Tavecchio was controversially elected as president of the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) last year despite making comments about there being too many "banana-eating" non-EU players in Italy. Sacchi's comments were widely reported abroad, triggering alarm and condemnation.
"There are too many racists in Italian football," posted former England forward Gary Lineker, now a BBC presenter, on his Twitter account, @GaryLineker. Sacchi later backtracked, saying his remarks had been distorted. "Phrases pronounced in a 15-minute speech have been reported so as to attribute thoughts that are not mine," said Sacchi. "I had coloured players in my team 30 years ago and now I am depicted as a racist," he said, declining to comment further. Sacchi, 68, is considered an innovator and elder statesman of Italian football thanks to his brand of highly thought-out, pressurized, total football that enabled AC Milan to win back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990 and helped Italy reach the 1994 World Cup final. But his reputation now risks being tarnished by this controversy, despite his subsequent protests that he was "misinterpreted".
"Italian Football too many ignorant people in power so we're in the s**t," said top agent Mino Raiola. "Ashamed to be Italian when I hear Sacchi's declaration. Bella figura (good show)". Raiola's clients include Liverpool and Italy striker Mario Balotelli, who has Ghanaian roots and had repeatedly been hit by racist abuse in his homeland. Sacchi should be ashamed of himself and footballers' bodies should step in, Raiola went on to tell ANSA. "Sacchi should be ashamed of what he said, I'm ashamed of being his countryman," he said. He said the Italian professional players' union AIC should "intervene to safeguard black lads". "He (Sacchi) is one to talk, someone who only won thanks to black players," Raiola said. Sacchi's words also caused heated debate on social networks. Some commentators said that it is a sad day when Raiola, not one of Italian soccer's most popular figures, is the person making sense and Sacchi is the one putting the game here in a bad light.
"I'm certainly not racist, as my past as a coach shows, starting with (ex-Milan and Netherlands midfielder Frank) Rijkaard, but after seeing the Viareggio Cup (for youth teams), I say that there are too many players of colour, too many foreigners, even in the academy sides," Sacchi said. "Italy has no dignity, it has no pride.
Italian football has been dogged by repeated episodes of racism on the terraces in recent years and Carlo Tavecchio was controversially elected as president of the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) last year despite making comments about there being too many "banana-eating" non-EU players in Italy. Sacchi's comments were widely reported abroad, triggering alarm and condemnation.
"There are too many racists in Italian football," posted former England forward Gary Lineker, now a BBC presenter, on his Twitter account, @GaryLineker. Sacchi later backtracked, saying his remarks had been distorted. "Phrases pronounced in a 15-minute speech have been reported so as to attribute thoughts that are not mine," said Sacchi. "I had coloured players in my team 30 years ago and now I am depicted as a racist," he said, declining to comment further. Sacchi, 68, is considered an innovator and elder statesman of Italian football thanks to his brand of highly thought-out, pressurized, total football that enabled AC Milan to win back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990 and helped Italy reach the 1994 World Cup final. But his reputation now risks being tarnished by this controversy, despite his subsequent protests that he was "misinterpreted".
"Italian Football too many ignorant people in power so we're in the s**t," said top agent Mino Raiola. "Ashamed to be Italian when I hear Sacchi's declaration. Bella figura (good show)". Raiola's clients include Liverpool and Italy striker Mario Balotelli, who has Ghanaian roots and had repeatedly been hit by racist abuse in his homeland. Sacchi should be ashamed of himself and footballers' bodies should step in, Raiola went on to tell ANSA. "Sacchi should be ashamed of what he said, I'm ashamed of being his countryman," he said. He said the Italian professional players' union AIC should "intervene to safeguard black lads". "He (Sacchi) is one to talk, someone who only won thanks to black players," Raiola said. Sacchi's words also caused heated debate on social networks. Some commentators said that it is a sad day when Raiola, not one of Italian soccer's most popular figures, is the person making sense and Sacchi is the one putting the game here in a bad light.