FIFA president Blatter expresses shock at Sacchi racist comments
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has condemned the controversial comments made by former Italy head coach Arrigo Sacchi, taking to Twitter to express his "shock".
During an awards ceremony in Tuscany last week Sacchi made the comment that there were "too many players of color" in Italy's youth teams.
Responding to Sacchi's comments, Blatter posted on Twitter: "Pride and dignity is not a question of skin color. Shocked by Arrigo Sacchi's comments. Stop it".
Sacchi has denied his comments were racist, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I'm not racist and my history as a coach shows that, but watching at the Viareggio Cup (a youth football tournament) makes me think there are too many players of colour.
"Business interests now come first. Italy has no dignity, it has no pride: you shouldn't have squads including 15 foreigners."
Sacchi has employed black players during his career, with Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit playing alongside fellow Netherlands international Marco van Basten signed to Milan during Sacchi's term at the club.
But Sacchi's comments are likely to raise the ire of FIFA further: last year FIGC (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio) president Carlo Tavecchio was banned for six months after he made an inappropriate comment about African players.
Sacchi's comments have also been denounced by anti-racism group Kick it Out.
"Kick It Out fully condemns the comments made by former Italy and AC Milan manager Arrigo Sacchi that 'there are too many black players' in youth football in Italy," a statement from the group read.
"It is further proof of the prejudiced attitudes which continue to exist across the game, and the level of work required to educate those holding influential positions and statuses.
"Football is an international sport which should be accepting of people of all backgrounds and cultures. The reality is that we are a long way off seeing a game which is fully inclusive."
