FIGC: UEFA opens investigation into alleged racist comments made by president Carlo Tavecchio

"Mr Carlo Tavecchio, President of the FIGC (Federazione Italiano di Giuoco Calcio, the Italian football federation), has today (on 20/08/2014) been personally informed by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) about the decision of its Chief Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to open a disciplinary investigation on alleged racist comments made by him during his FIGC presidential election campaign," stated UEFA on 20/08/2014.

Carlo Tavecchio compared African footballers to "banana eaters" during a speech to the assembly of the Italian Amateur Football League, of which he was the president, on 25/07/2014. "Once the report has been completed, the UEFA Chief Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector will submit its conclusions to the Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body to render a decision about this matter," said UEFA.

Carlo Tavecchio, 71, who was elected president of the FIGC on 11/08/2014 in Rome (ITA), said that he had "a clear conscience" following his first federal council as president on 18/08/2014: "What matters are the facts. An initiative I undertook enabled 12,000…