September 3 – UEFA are attempting to distance themselves from a potentially awkward situation at next week’s anti-discrimination conference in Rome.
The conference is in the backyard of controversial new Italian football federation president Carlo Tavecchio who sparked a global furore by his “banana eaters” comments when referring to African footballers.
UEFA has since opened a disciplinary investigation into his remarks though he has been cleared of any offence by his own federation.
UEFA are refusing to say whether Tavecchio, a member of its youth and amateur football committee, will attend what is the fourth pan-European conference on anti-discrimination on September 10 – 11.
“We don’t know whether he will come to the conference give a welcome address or not,” said UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino. “The conference is one thing, the disciplinary process is another. The one really has nothing to do with the other.”
Organised jointly by UEFA, the FARE network and FIFPro, over 200 delegates are expected.
“The fight against racism is at the heart of our efforts,” said UEFA president Michel Platini. “I hope this conference, which we are organising with our partners, will encourage football leaders, coaches, players and fans to work together to stop all forms of discrimination.”
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