Backlash in Italy over naturalized players
Source: Agencies |
August 11, 2010, Wednesday
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THE selection of a Brazilian-born player for Italy's national team is fueling a debate with racial and xenophobic overtones in a country that has supplied millions of immigrants to other nations but struggles to integrate its own.
A lawmaker with the Northern League government party, known for its anti-immigrant rhetoric, claims Italy should promote homegrown talent rather than making room for "leftovers" from other nations.
Amauri, a Brazilian native getting his first chance to line up for the country where he has spent most of his career, says he will play "against prejudice." "I wanted Italy," Amauri said from the Azzurri's training ground in Monday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "I'm happy and proud."
Amauri's call-up for the friendly against the Ivory Coast was part of efforts by new coach Cesare Prandelli to inject some fresh blood into the team after Italy's embarrassing group-stage exit at the World Cup in South Africa.
The 30-year-old Amauri is a late bloomer who has never played either for his country of birth or Italy. He gained Italian citizenship in April by way of marriage and had hoped to be picked for the World Cup, but he was in poor form last season and was omitted from the team.
Racial taunts
Also getting a call-up for Italy is Mario Balotelli, a talented 19-year-old of Ghanian descent who has been the subject of racial taunts at games in Italy for the past two seasons.
"I will play against prejudice," Amauri said. "Mario and I will do everything we can to make these people change their minds."
If Balotelli's case has highlighted the plague of racism in Italian stadiums, Amauri's call-up has brought to the fore the issue of naturalization of foreign-born players.
"Talent and Naturalized Players: A message for the Future," was the headline of a front-page editorial this weekend in La Repubblica, welcoming Prandelli's choices.
The newspaper said Prandelli had launched "a political signal, rather than a technical one: The new Italy is open to (naturalized players), and hopefully, like Germany, to the sons of immigrants."
In the wake of Italy's flop at the World Cup, many Italian commentators praised the German squad, which featured among others a Brazilian-born player and one of Turkish descent, as a model for the future. But not all agree.
"The real representatives of this country aren't its foreigners," said Northern League lawmaker Davide Cavallotto. "What Brazil refused, we took," he said, calling Amauri a "leftover."
Cavallotto reportedly urged the Italian football federation to start promoting homegrown talent, as it did in the past with players like Roberto Baggio and Francesco Totti.
The Northern League is not new to such provocative comments. During the World Cup, the party's radio station drew rebuke when it rooted for Paraguay in Italy's opening game and party officials said Italy players were overpaid.
Daniele De Rossi, Italy's captain, said the decision to call up players does not rest with the League.
He noted that Mauro Camoranesi, an Argentine-born midfielder, had been part of Italy's squad for years, including when the Azzurri won the 2006 World Cup.
"As far as I and my teammates are concerned, whoever comes into this group will be well received," De Rossi said.
For his part, Prandelli is holding firm. "There will always be controversy," he said. "I'm going ahead, because I think it's the right path."
A lawmaker with the Northern League government party, known for its anti-immigrant rhetoric, claims Italy should promote homegrown talent rather than making room for "leftovers" from other nations.
Amauri, a Brazilian native getting his first chance to line up for the country where he has spent most of his career, says he will play "against prejudice." "I wanted Italy," Amauri said from the Azzurri's training ground in Monday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "I'm happy and proud."
Amauri's call-up for the friendly against the Ivory Coast was part of efforts by new coach Cesare Prandelli to inject some fresh blood into the team after Italy's embarrassing group-stage exit at the World Cup in South Africa.
The 30-year-old Amauri is a late bloomer who has never played either for his country of birth or Italy. He gained Italian citizenship in April by way of marriage and had hoped to be picked for the World Cup, but he was in poor form last season and was omitted from the team.
Racial taunts
Also getting a call-up for Italy is Mario Balotelli, a talented 19-year-old of Ghanian descent who has been the subject of racial taunts at games in Italy for the past two seasons.
"I will play against prejudice," Amauri said. "Mario and I will do everything we can to make these people change their minds."
If Balotelli's case has highlighted the plague of racism in Italian stadiums, Amauri's call-up has brought to the fore the issue of naturalization of foreign-born players.
"Talent and Naturalized Players: A message for the Future," was the headline of a front-page editorial this weekend in La Repubblica, welcoming Prandelli's choices.
The newspaper said Prandelli had launched "a political signal, rather than a technical one: The new Italy is open to (naturalized players), and hopefully, like Germany, to the sons of immigrants."
In the wake of Italy's flop at the World Cup, many Italian commentators praised the German squad, which featured among others a Brazilian-born player and one of Turkish descent, as a model for the future. But not all agree.
"The real representatives of this country aren't its foreigners," said Northern League lawmaker Davide Cavallotto. "What Brazil refused, we took," he said, calling Amauri a "leftover."
Cavallotto reportedly urged the Italian football federation to start promoting homegrown talent, as it did in the past with players like Roberto Baggio and Francesco Totti.
The Northern League is not new to such provocative comments. During the World Cup, the party's radio station drew rebuke when it rooted for Paraguay in Italy's opening game and party officials said Italy players were overpaid.
Daniele De Rossi, Italy's captain, said the decision to call up players does not rest with the League.
He noted that Mauro Camoranesi, an Argentine-born midfielder, had been part of Italy's squad for years, including when the Azzurri won the 2006 World Cup.
"As far as I and my teammates are concerned, whoever comes into this group will be well received," De Rossi said.
For his part, Prandelli is holding firm. "There will always be controversy," he said. "I'm going ahead, because I think it's the right path."
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