Carlo Tavecchio "has been elected as the new president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC)," according to the BBC. The 71-year-old "caused controversy" during his election campaign after making a racist comment about some players being "banana eaters." Tavecchio "beat former AC Milan player Demetrio Albertini in the vote." Tavecchio said, "I will be a president for everybody, and especially for those who have legitimately expressed their dissent about me taking the job." Tavecchio secured 63.63% of the vote in the third round of polling, "compared to rival Albertini's 33.95%." He "replaces Giancarlo Abete" (BBC, 8/11). In London, Ben Rumsby wrote Man City Elite Development Squad Manager Patrick Vieira "reacted with dismay" to Tavecchio’s election as president of FIGC, despite being condemned by the head of FIFA’s anti-racism task force, Jeffrey Webb, and Football Against Racism in Europe Exec Dir Piara Powar. Vieira "used Twitter to express his disappointment." Vieira posted, “For me, that shows how far away the Italian football authorities are from dealing with discrimination. 63.63% of those that voted are admitting that they aren’t fighting against racism, or that they don’t want to fight these problems. I played in Italy for years so I know the issues, I saw the issues. If he was an English man making this kind of comment, politically, he would be completely out" (TELEGRAPH, 8/12). The London GUARDIAN reported several leading clubs "withdrew support for the amateur leagues
president, who originally had the backing of all Serie A teams apart
from Juventus and Roma." Among his first tasks "will be selecting a new head coach for the Italian
national team." Former Juventus coach Antonio Conte and former
Man City Manager Roberto Mancini "are reportedly leading the race"
to replace national team coach Cesare Prandelli (GUARDIAN, 8/11).
