Carlo Tavecchio sniped at Demetrio Albertini as he prepared to be elected FIGC President. “I’m too old for compromise.”
Carlo Tavecchio sniped at Demetrio Albertini as he prepared to be elected FIGC President. “I’m too old for compromise.”
The 71-year-old is currently the President of the LND (Lega Nazionale Dilettanti) amateur League, but as of yesterday has the support of almost everyone voting for the Federation chair.
Only Juventus” data-scaytid=”10″>Juventus and Roma hold out in Serie A, while Serie B and Lega Pro have already backed his candidacy to replace Giancarlo Abete.
“Nowadays people only talk about brands, but we haven’t sold anything and don’t have a brand,” blasted Tavecchio to reporters.
“Explain to me what the Italian system is without football teams? If we don’t see a game on Sunday, we all go crazy.
“I have to say with the Dilettanti we started out with a ridiculous budget and now have more than €20m in the kitty. We went from being a rib of the FIGC to active League.
“During a moment of calamity, we were able to create a united front with anything from the women’s league to five-a-side football.
“If a club cannot register for the season due to financial problems, we guaranteed payment for the players not paid by the club.”
Tavecchio then took a sideswipe at his rival for the FIGC Presidency, former Milan and Barcelona midfelder Albertini.
“This turnaround of the Dilettanti is a result the media do not know, as for them a 40-metre pass is worth more than balanced books. I can try making passes, but who else is able to balance the books like me?
“People say I’m too old? Does that mean I’m meant to kill myself? I was a mayor and many other things in my life, but I’m too old for compromise.
“For the first 50 years maybe I compromised, but now that I’m 71 that’s not going to happen! I’ve no need to make myself rich so I can take money to the grave.
“I have just one slogan: fairness in sport. Nothing more. If the riches are produced, they must also be handed to those who cannot otherwise make the most of them.”