Inter President Erick Thohir does not believe Italy is a racist country, despite recent slurs against him.
Thohir was referred to as ‘that Filipino’ by Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero, and attacked in a Huffington Post column as a ‘fat Indonesian’ by Evelina Christillin, the former President of the organising committee for the 2006 Turin Olympics.
Inter President Erick Thohir does not believe Italy is a racist country, despite recent slurs against him.
Thohir was referred to as ‘that Filipino’ by Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero, and attacked in a Huffington Post column as a ‘fat Indonesian’ by Evelina Christillin, the former President of the organising committee for the 2006 Turin Olympics.
Maurizio Beretta, President of the Lega Serie A called for Thohir to be shown more respect, but the Inter patron doesn’t believe Italy is a racist country.
“I can take these things as a joke, or I can’t,” Thohir reflected in an interview with La Repubblica.
“I’m not tall, and I never will be. I’m not skinny. For many people I’m not even good looking. These are facts, and I won’t deny them.
“But what I am is a hard worker, and I’m working to return Inter and Serie A to the top.
“My father taught me that to get respect you must give respect. Criticism is a good thing, it forces us to ask ourselves where we’ve gone wrong.
“I don’t think Italians are racist.
“Most of them are passionate and loving, but I can’t deny there have been individual cases of disrespect.
“President Ferrero apologised, he says there was a miscommunication. I invited him to a meeting to get to know each other, to discuss the real important things like the future of Serie A.
“Ms Christillin? Nothing. I know she issued a statement. It’s up to her to reach out if she wants to.”
The Inter President also reflected on Italian culture, and believes that Italy has a “brand” to sell throughout the world.
“I want to adapt, and respect the culture here [in Italy].
“The League is very difficult, very tactical and full of surprises. Everyone is emotional at the end of matches, the people who won and the people who lost.
“Not only that, Italy has an invaluable asset – its ‘pop culture’.
“The US has exported burgers, music and cinema to the world. Italy has done the same with cars, fashion, food…
“There are very few countries which have global brands, in fact others have tried to build them – Japan in the 1970s with electronics and now South Korea.
“It’s a privilege to be a guide for everyone, please realise this and mingle with the rest of the world without fear. Look at the US, they’re leaders but always trying to improve.”
Finally, Thohir explained his philosophy, denying suggestions that he’s overly thrifty.
“I always start with data and statistics,” the President explained.
“I have many businesses, and I do a lot of travelling so my staff are my eyes on an everyday basis. As President, I give a vision, a strategic plan and then discuss it.
“Strategy and competence are what leads to results, not just feeling and intuitions or praying that things go well.
“When I arrived I said ‘I’m not Superman’. Now I say that a company has to have The Avengers – superheroes all working together.
“I listen to everyone, then I make a decision.
“Money is important, but it’s not as critical as expertise and knowing how to win.
“The Sixers [Philadelphia 76ers basketball team which Thohir also controls] and DC United [Thohir’s MLS team] have gotten results.
“My football team [Persib Bandung] won the Indonesian League last year, my basketball team eight in the last 14 years…
“We will spend more in the future. We’ll wait for February and the Financial Fair Play decision and then we’ll decide how to move forward.
“In Nyon we presented our five year plan. [UEFA President Michel] Platini was pleased that a club owner would go there to explain these things.
“Among other things we respect that the rule is a good one.
“Top players in the future? Let’s wait and see. Great names don’t in themselves guarantee victory.
“We’ll spend, but at the right time.”