FIGC: Carlo Tavecchio defends himself after the broadcast of anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks

"This is retaliation against me from a person to whom I refused an interview and after my refusal, released derogatory content," said Carlo Tavecchio, president of the FIGC, on 02/11/2015, regarding his anti-Semitic and homophobic statements from June 2015 during an interview with director of the website Soccerlife, Massimiliano Giacomini. A copy of the remarks were obtained by the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, which published them on 01/11/2015.

Carlo Tavecchio, 72 years old, talks about the purchase of the headquarters of the amateur football league from "some Anticoli, a little Jew." "I have nothing against Jews, huh," Tavecchio said, adding that "it is better to keep them at bay."

About a former leader of the Italian Federation, the current president asked: "But tell me, is it true...?" "Gay? Yes," replied the director of Soccerlife. "I have nothing against them. But keep them away from me. I am absolutely normal," responded Carlo Tavecchio.

The president of the FIGC had previously been declared ineligible for any position of UEFA for a period of six months by the…