Sampdoria president apologizes for calling Thohir 'that Filipino'

Published Oct. 27, 2014 6:50 a.m. ET

foxsports

Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has apologised for calling Inter Milan's Indonesian owner Erick Thohir "that Filipino".

Speaking on television show Stadio Sprint, Ferrero said he told Massimo Moratti, Thohir's predecessor as Inter president who stepped down as honorary president in the week, to "kick out that Filipino", in reference to Thohir.

When told by the presenter that Thohir was in fact from Indonesia, Ferrero added: "He has insulted an emblem of Italian football".

Ferrero, who had been animatedly explaining how unhappy he was at Moratti's treatment, issued an apology in a statement on Samp's official website on Sunday evening.

"I did not mean to disrespect Mr Thohir, the Inter directors or the people of the Philippines, with whom I have always had wonderful relationships," Ferrero said. "I wanted to commend Massimo Moratti and what he has given to Inter and Italian football for 20 years."

Thohir, whomis also the majority owner of D.C. United, bought a majority stake in Inter last year, replacing Moratti as Inter president after the latter had spent 18 years in the role.