UEFA bans Italian football president Carlo Tavecchio for calling African players 'Banana eaters'

European football governing body,UEFA has handed the president of the Italian footballfederation (FIGC), Carlo Tavecchio a six-month ban for making racists comments.

The 71-year old Tavecchio was elected the new president of Italian football,but it came with rancour as many protested his election following his antecedents with other races.

He was in the eye of the storm when he referred to African players as those: "eating bananas" when discussing about foreign players in the Italian league.

As part of his punishment,Tavecchio has also been told by UEFA that he will: "organise a special event in Italy aimed at increasing awareness against racism".

But most people see his punishment as too lenient and not setting a good precedence,especially for someone at the top echelon of Italian football.

Upon his election as the new president ofItalian football,former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh described it as: "a dark day for football".

Tavecchio cannot hold any UEFA position and will be barred from their next congress that will be held in March 2015.




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