European football governing body, UEFA , has handed the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Carlo Tavecchio a six-month ban for making racists comments.
71-year old Tavecchio was elected the new president of Italian football, but it came amid rancour as many protested the appointment of someone who had recently found himself in the eye of a storm when he referred to an imaginary African player in Italy’s Serie A as “eating bananas”.
Quoted by newspaper La Repubblica, Tavecchio said: “England identifies the players coming in and, if they are professional, they are allowed to play.
“Here [in Italy], on the other hand, let’s say there’s [fictional player] Opti Poba, who has come here [from Africa], who previously was eating bananas and now is a first-team player for Lazio. In England he has to demonstrate his CV and his pedigree.”
As part of his punishment, Tavecchio has also been told by UEFA that he should “organise a special event in Italy aimed at increasing awareness against racism”.
But many see his punishment as too lenient for someone at the top echelon of national football, and have called for him to be sacked. Upon his election as Italian football’s new supremo, former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh described it as: “a dark day for football”.
Tavecchio cannot hold any UEFA position and will be barred from the body’s next congress in March 2015.
A UEFA statement reads:
“Following a request for information made by UEFA to the FIGC, on 20 August 2014 the UEFA Chief Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector opened a disciplinary investigation regarding alleged racist comments made by Mr. Tavecchio during his FIGC presidential election campaign.
“At the request of the UEFA Chief Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector disciplinary proceedings were opened against Mr. Tavecchio on 29 September 2014.
“After having analyzed the case file and the statements submitted by both parties, the CEDB has decided, based on Articles 6, 7, 14(1) and 34(5) DR [in the spirit of UEFA’s Resolution entitled European Football united against racism] and taking into account Mr. Tavecchio’s decision to immediately refrain from participating in any UEFA’s activity pending the resolution of the matter, as follows:
“Mr. Tavecchio will be ineligible for any position as a UEFA Official for a period of six months starting from the communication of this decision;
“Mr. Tavecchio will not participate in the next UEFA Congress scheduled for 24 March 2015;
“Mr. Tavecchio will organise a special event in Italy aimed at increasing awareness and compliance with the principles of UEFA’s Resolution entitled European Football united against racism.”
