FIGC: FIFA launches investigation on alleged racist comments by candidate Carlo Tavecchio

"Media reports concerning alleged racist comments by one of the presidential candidates for the FIGC (Italian football association) have alerted FIFA’s (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) task force against racism and discrimination and its chairman Jeffrey Webb. As such, FIFA has written a letter to the Italian FA asking it to take the appropriate steps to investigate and decide on this matter and report to FIFA," said FIFA on 28/07/2014.

Carlo Tavecchio, the frontrunner for the FIGC's presidential elections on 11/08/2014, compared African football players to "banana eaters" during a speech in front of the assembly of Lega Dilettanti, the Italian amateur football league, on 25/07/2014. Carlo Tavecchio, 71, is the current president of Liga Dilettanti.

"In England, they identify the players coming in and, if they are professional, they are allowed to play,” Tavecchio said on 25/07/2014. "Here instead we get Opti Pobà, who previously ate bananas and then suddenly becomes a first-team player with Lazio [Serie A]. That’s how it is here. In England, you need to demonstrate…