Roma sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has apologised for describing football as “a man’s game, not a ballet class for little girls.”
Roma sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has apologised for describing football as “a man’s game, not a ballet class for little girls.”
“It was contact, not a push, because this is a contact sport and not a ballet class for little girls. It is a man’s game and there is contact,” he fumed.
That sparked a backlash, most notably from Italy women’s CT Milena Bertolini, who accused the 50-year-old of still living “in the last century”.
“I’m sorry if anyone was offended by the words I used,” the ex-Torino man later clarified via the Giallorossi’s official Twitter account.
“It wasn’t my intention to suggest that football is only a man’s game & not for young ladies.
“Football is for everyone and, at Roma, we’re proud of our women’s team and our role in promoting women’s football.”