November 3 – First he accused African players of being “banana eaters”, then made disparaging remarks about the sexuality of women footballers. Now the president of Italy’s Football Association Carlo Tevacchio is at it again, this time accused of making anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks.
According to the transcript of an interview with the Italian website SoccerLife, published by Corriere della Sera, Tavecchio is alleged to have said: ‘I have nothing against Jews but it is best to keep them at arm’s length.’
He is reported to have added: “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.”
Tevacchio was handed a six-month sanction from UEFA last year after saying that African footballers can go from ‘eating bananas’ to ‘playing for Lazio’ when discussing foreign players during the election campaign. Despite his controversial remarks, for which he subsequently apologised, Tavecchio won the election to replace Giancarlo Abete as president.
He claims his latest comments, before he took over from Abete, were made in a private discussion with the director of the SoccerLife website Massimiliano Giacomini and that he was not aware that they were being recorded.
The Italian FA maintains his remarks were “manipulated” and says he has already made his legal team aware of the facts.
In a statement, Tevacchio said the same and angry refuted the accusations against him. “My words are clear and I have reiterated my long-term rapport of personal and professional respect for Jews,” he said.
“Regarding the accusations of homophobia, the audio is very clear from the moment I say that ‘I have nothing against homosexuals’ and that I have never discriminated against anyone for that reason. I respect everyone’s choices.
“I should point out that it was not an interview but a meeting requested by Giacomini, who I’ve known for years and met several times, and that the recording was made without my knowledge, a deplorable phenomenon which has unfortunately become widespread.
“If you examine the events without bias, it is an obvious retaliation against me by the person to whom I denied the contributions for his editorial work, and who after my refusal has gone against the FIGC and a number of my people in a disparaging manner, of which I have already informed my lawyers.”
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