Disgraced TV pundit Stefano Eranio again attempts to explain the comments that led to his sacking for racism, and labels Swiss broadcasters ‘cowards.’
The former Milan and Derby County winger was sacked on Wednesday after making a racist comment about Roma defender Antonio Rudiger.
Disgraced TV pundit Stefano Eranio again attempts to explain the comments that led to his sacking for racism, and labels Swiss broadcasters ‘cowards.’
The former Milan and Derby County winger was sacked on Wednesday after making a racist comment about Roma defender Antonio Rudiger.
He had tried to explain himself following the decision, only to dig himself deeper and has continued to talk himself into trouble today.
“I'm really disheartened by what happened,” Eranio told Sport 1.
“As I already said, I apologise if I offended anyone and it was definitely not my intention to.
“What I regret is that when they reported the news, they cut pieces out. They claim that I said that ‘black players don’t think'.
“But no. I said that black players 'don’t think as a team on the defensive line', for example excluding those who are not defenders.
“I was wrong to generalise, of course, also because Rudiger is German. But tactically, Africans are not particularly prepared because of their football culture.
“It’s better for us because otherwise they would always win the World Cup.
"I am saddened by what happened. Everyone can think what they want. TSI (Televisione Svizzera Italiana) has distanced itself from me and I respect their decision, but I don’t agree with what they did.
“They behaved like cowards. It took me 49 years to build an image of a clean sportsman.
“In 30 seconds they wanted to change everything. It would’ve been enough to just not call me anymore.
“Of course I messed up, but with that press release they raised a cloud of dust that I could’ve done without.”