Football manager offers up quite staggering 'I'm not a racist... but' rant

The former manager of Italy, Real Madrid and AC Milan gave a staggering "I'm not racist... but" prelude to a statement which many would consider to be racist.

Arrigo Sacchi, who was speaking at an awards ceremony, was quoted by Gazetta dello Sport:

I’m certainly not racist and my coaching history demonstrates that… But look at the Viareggio [youth] tournament I would say that there are too many black players.

Italy has no dignity, no pride. It should not be possible that our teams should have 15 foreign players in the squad.

• Arrigo Sacchi

The 68-year-old later tried to clarify his comments after being criticised in the press, telling the sports daily: "I have been misrepresented, how could I be racist?

"I just said I've seen a game with a team that fielded four boys of colour... I just wanted to point out that we are losing the pride and national identity."

Right.

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HT Guardian