Demetrio Albertini slammed Lazio” data-scaytid=”3″>Lazio President Claudio Lotito, while Carlo Tavecchio could get a four-month ban.
Demetrio Albertini slammed Lazio President Claudio Lotito, while Carlo Tavecchio could get a four-month ban.
Albertini and Tavecchio are the only two candidates for the role of FIGC President ahead of the election on August 11.
“I note that Lotito is omnipresent at the meetings, even more so than the two candidates,” wrote Albertini on his Twitter account.
There are now reports in La Repubblica that Tavecchio will be elected on August 11, but won’t last more than a couple of weeks in the position.
This is because Federation prosecutor Stefano Palazzi has received two calls to investigate and punish Tavecchio for racist comments.
If found guilty of breaking the FIGC, UEFA and FIFA code of ethics, Tavecchio could be banned for up to four months.
Therefore in order to avoid damage to the FIGC’s standing, he would be forced to step down and the Federation put under the administration of the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) for around six months until a new election.
This has happened before and it’s even reported many clubs would now back this option rather than let Albertini take over unopposed.
The CONI became involved today when President Gianni Malago gave an interview to La Repubblica.
“I expect a surprise ending to this story, which has now become a thriller. It might be before August 11, or soon after.
“Tavecchio’s programme is bold and innovative, though I told him he won’t be able to implement it. I said there would be too many bills to pay.”
It is believed these ‘bills’ are paying back his main sponsors for the FIGC job, namely Lazio and Milan.
“Should Tavecchio be disciplined for ‘bananagate’? I say Palazzi needs to deal with it. Tavecchio’s concept about work permits on incoming players made sense, but the expression he used was entirely unacceptable.
“Administration for the FIGC would be a positive option, as we could achieve things an elected President would not even be able to propose.
“At the same time, it would be negative because it’d create a dangerous precedent in not respecting the autonomy of the Federation.”