Italian football boss accused of making homophobic and anti-Semitic comments
The head of the Italian football federation has been accused of making anti-gay and anti-Semitic comments.
Carlo Tavecchio, the president of the Italian FA, faces accusations of the remarks by daily newspaper Corriere della Sera.
He reportedly made the comments to online sport outlet Soccer Life.
Tavecchio denies making the comments, apparently made whilst he discussed the sale of an amateur league’s headquarters.
He told Corriere that he had no recollection of making the comments, and claimed he had been targeted for blackmail.
The football boss said the comments “might have been manipulated.”
LGBT rights groups and Jewish groups have still called for his removal.
This is not the first time Tavecchio has been the subject of controversy.
Last year he was suspended for six months by UEFA when he made a racist comment during his election campaign.
He made a reference to bananas when discussing the presence of black players in Italy.
