Italy: UEFA's six month ban for Carlo Tavecchio does not surprise the President of CONI

"Let's not be hypocrites, everyone knew what was coming," said Giovanni Malago, president of CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee) on 08/10/2014, about the six month ban imposed by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), on 07/10/2014, against Carlo Tavecchio, the new president of the FIGC (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio di, the Italian Football Federation) for racist remarks.

Giovanni Malago believes Italian football is not weakened by the UEFA sanction ("He's not sick, he has problems with discipline, but that does not mean throw him away."). He acknowledges "an image problem," adding: "I have taken note of the election of Carlo Tavecchio as the head of the Federation. I know perfectly what the rules would allow me to respond to in regards to serious irregularities. Which was not the case. The election was perfectly democratic."

Carlo Tavecchio chooses not to appeal "to avoid a protracted dispute between UEFA and the FIGC."

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