FIGC President Giancarlo Abete has sought to calm his row with Zdenek Zeman, after the Roma Coach branded him the 'enemy of football.'
FIGC President Giancarlo Abete has sought to calm his row with Zdenek Zeman, after the Roma Coach branded him the 'enemy of football.'
The Czech aired his views on Abete in a recent interview with Sette, when asked which of his enemies he'd like to go to dinner with. He has since backtracked somewhat, saying his statements were misinterpreted and 'not personal.'
And Abete has stressed today that there is no ongoing dispute.
“He has made it clear, it was a critique of sporting policy,” he is quoted as saying by CalcioNews24
“There would be no reason to make a personal criticism. Moreover he said that he would have dinner with me.”
The tactician has a long history of clashing with Italian football’s governing body.
“Controversy is part of Calcio.” Abete continued, “One must distinguish between the controversy that can lead to concrete answers from the evaluation of the qualities of a leader.”
“Zeman is a great Coach and he knows it. He is a great motivator, which the presence of Roma fans at the stadium testifies to.”