Fabio Capello has defended mentor Arrigo Sacchi against claims of racism, but ignited a homophobia row.
Capello was on the coaching staff at Milan during Sacchi’s successful reign, before taking over the top job and continuing their dominance.
“What he said is not racism,” the Russia CT said in an interview with Onda Cero.
“We just need to have more Italian players in our youth academies, with an Italian identity.
Fabio Capello has defended mentor Arrigo Sacchi against claims of racism, but ignited a homophobia row.
Capello was on the coaching staff at Milan during Sacchi’s successful reign, before taking over the top job and continuing their dominance.
“What he said is not racism,” the Russia CT said in an interview with Onda Cero.
“We just need to have more Italian players in our youth academies, with an Italian identity.
“We also have black players who are Italian but he was referring to the youth teams that have eight or nine foreign players in them.”
However, Capello may have whipped a storm of his own, after using a word which could be deemed homophobic.
While defending Atletico Madrid’s robust style, the former England manager said that football was not a game for ‘mariquitas’.
While literally translated as ‘ladybird’, the phrase can be used as a homophobic insult.