By Andrew Warshaw
October 8 – The administration of Italian football has been plunged into disrepute after federation president Carlo Tavecchio was banned from all European roles by UEFA for six months over his infamous ‘banana eaters’ comment whilst running for election.
The 71-year-old drew widespread criticism in July by uttering the allegedly racist remark when trying to make a point about the influx of foreign players during a speech to an assembly of Italy’s amateur leagues.
The penalty, one of the harshest of its kind ever meted out to a senior European official for this kind of behaviour, is all the more embarrassing given that Tavecchio is a member of UEFA’s own youth and amateur football committee.
Although he apologised Tavecchio will now be “ineligible for any position as a UEFA official” for six months, UEFA said, meaning he will miss next year’s UEFA Congress in Vienna in March as well as all other functions.
Despite the remark, he beat former AC Milan player Demetrio Albertini in August in the race to succeed Giancarlo Abete. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) decided not to take any action but Uefa’s Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) conducted its own investigation.
At the time UEFA’s inquiry was announced, Tavecchio. who ran Italy’s amateur leagues association (LDN) from 1999 to 2014, said in a statement: “I am calm and I respect UEFA’s decision. It’s something that had to be done, hence, we had foreseen it. I am certain that I will also be able to explain in UEFA’s headquarters my mistake as well as my true intentions.”
But it wasn’t enough to satisfy UEFA which has taken an increasingly strong line against racism and could not be seen to make an exception, even for the boss of one of the big five federations.
Because he was cleared of any offence by the Italian federation’s own disciplinary commission, Tavecchio remains head of his federation for the time being though that must now be in doubt.
The issue was equally embarrassing for UEFA since it blew up shortly before the European federation’s highly publicised conference on anti-discrimination in Rome last month. Tavecchio, although his country were hosts, stayed away.
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