FIGC President under fire in new racism row

Date: 1st November 2015 at 7:23pm
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Carlo TavecchioItalian Football Federation president Carlo Tavecchio is surrounded by controversy once again, after a recording surfaced in which he allegedly makes homophobic and anti-semitic remarks.

The 72-year-old was surrounded by a media storm last year after comments made about players of African decent, which consequently resulted in a six-month ban.

Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera has now thrust Tavecchio back into the spotlight, having released segments of an audio tape of a conversation held with online media outfit Soccer Life.

During the audio Tavecchio can clearly be heard discussing the sale of the Lega Nazionale Dilettanti’s headquarters to Cesare Anticoli, whom Tavecchio refers to as an ‘ebreaccio’ – a derogatory term for followers of Judaism.

“It was bought by that lousy Jew Anticoli,” He can be heard saying on the recording of the conversation.

“I don’t have anything against Jews, but it’s best to keep them under control.

“Is it true that a former President of the FIGC was gay? I have nothing against homosexuals but keep them away from me, I am perfectly normal,” he is also alleged to have said.

Tavecchio has since hit back, denying any knowledge of such statements.

“I am clearly the victim of a blackmail attempt,” he claims.

“I don’t remember the exact words I used in that conversation and they could have easily been manipulated.

“I have excellent relationships with the Jewish community and any attempt to discredit or slander me will be pursued.”

 

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