UEFA: Carlo Tavecchio, president of the Italian Federation, is banned for six months

The Italian Carlo Tavecchio, president of the FIGC (Federazione Italiano Giuoco di Calcio, the Italian Football Federation), is banned from participating in any UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) activities for six months, the UEFA disciplinary commission announced on 07/10/2014. The 71 year old Italian will also not participate in the UEFA Congress scheduled in Vienna (AUT) on 24/03/2015.

These sanctions are in response to racist comments from Carlo Tavecchio, elected president of the FIGC on 11/08/2014, who had referred to an African player "eating bananas" in a speech during his election campaign, on 25/07/2014.

• Carlo Tavecchio will organise an event in Italy against racism, UEFA said on 07/10/2014.
• UEFA opened a disciplinary investigation on 20/08/2014 into alleged racist remarks made by Carlo Tavecchio.