Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Sunday Oliseh, and Patrick Vieira slam Carlo Tavecchio's appointment as Italian FA President after alleged racist slurs.
Tavecchio’s
appointment as President of Italian FA Monday has spurred lots of outrage. The 71-year old
officials topped the voting after he reportedly called African
players “Banana eaters' earlier this summer. Tavecchio took 63.3%
of the vote in the final round of polling to beat former AC Milan
player Demetrio Albertini.
Tavecchio
has apologized for his remark.
Former
Super Eagle player Sunday Oliseh refers to his election as a “dark
day for football”
Speaking
to BBC Sport Oliseh said-“To have someone elected who would make
such a comment sends a message: we don't care.”
"That he won
majority of the vote makes you question if his opinion is only his
or whether it is also the opinion of the general public in Italy, it
is a big problem” added Oliseh.
Speaking
on the plight of current African players playing in Italy, the ex-Super Eagles legend said: “The African players in Italy will still
have to do their work and give their best. Some players may want to
leave but might not have the opportunity to do so. “
“For
years black players have had to fight against racism just to play
their traid and its a situation that is out of hand.”
Also speaking
out on his election, former Arsenal FC skipper Patrick Vieira also criticized the decision suggesting it shows how racism is treated in
Italy.
“I'm
finding it really hard to believe that Carlo Tavecchio has been
elected as president of the Italian FA after the comments that he
made,” he said on his Twitter page.
“For
me, that shows how far away the Italian football authorities are from
dealing with discrimination. 63.3% of those that voted are admitting
that they aren't fighting against racism, or that they don't want to
fight these problems.
Vieira
who is currently at Manchester City as coach is of the opinion that
if the Italian FA President was English he would be banned from the
game here.
“I
played in Italy for years so I know the issues I saw,” he added, “
If he was an English man making this kind of comment, politically, he
would be completely out. This decision was made in football, but I
think it is bigger than football. It should make the whole country of
Italy look at the message they want to send about what they think
about racism.”
“ I
can't believe he will represent that Italian Football authorities.
What a shame.”
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