Former Coach Arrigo Sacchi admits he was ‘careless’ in causing his racism row, but hits back at FIFA President Sepp Blatter and anti-racist ‘populism’.

Former Coach Arrigo Sacchi admits he was ‘careless’ in causing his racism row, but hits back at FIFA President Sepp Blatter and anti-racist ‘populism’.

The pundit's barb that there are ‘too many black players’ in Italian youth academies was met with outrage by the sports community, not least Blatter's criticism that ‘pride and dignity are not a matter of skin-colour’.

Speaking to Mediaset Premium today, Sacchi attempted to clarify his position and said he was surprised by the reaction.

“I am amazed, but not as much as you may think,” the former Italy boss commented.

“I know only too well that in this environment populism is par for the course, and that there is no memory of history.

“I've been in football for 42 years, and over these 42 years no-one ever accused me of being racist.

“I don't think I became one at the age of 68.

“I coached and am friends with many black players. I'm not so stupid or obtuse.

“I was perhaps careless, among other things because I thought nobody could ever call me a racist.”

Sacchi then went on in an attempt to clarify what his intended statement was.

“I was just explaining the problems of Italian football.

“Among the most serious is the excess of foreign players in Italy. They can't be more than a few, and of high quality.

“I was explaining how in other countries there's a different kind of pride, for instance in Spain, where people in Madrid complain if Spaniards don't get playing time.

“There's a business here in Italy, but it's a very dangerous one.

“People make money over the skin of young players, especially those who come from poor countries with great expectations.

“Many are purchased without even being scouted.

“I said that many foreigners are playing and on that day I saw four, five black kids on the pitch.

“I didn't think that was racism. Today, in Italy and abroad, just mentioning 'black' or 'colour' has everyone off their leash.

“If I'd used the word 'foreigners' nobody would have said a thing.

“Instead we get all the moralists and the politically correct, people I won't deign with a response because the whole world knows their story, much like the whole world knows my story.

“I'm sorry that there's no memory of our history at all.

“If I haven't been able to explain myself in 42 years, then I'll have to spend another 20 hoping they understand what I'm like.”

Byrob

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