‘Homophobia’ row hits Sarri
Print Edition
An Italian gay rights group demanded yesterday that Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri be punished for his homophobic rant at Inter Milan counterpart Roberto Mancini.
Following Inter’s 2-0 Coppa Italia quarterfinal victory at Napoli on Tuesday night, Sarri called Mancini a “poof”, leading to a furious reaction from the former Manchester City boss.
Fabrizio Marrazzo, spokesman for Gay Center, has called on authorities to make an example of Sarri.
“As a Neapolitan and Napoli fan, I’m ashamed of Sarri’s words,” he said, adding that he wanted a meeting with Carlo Tavecchio, the Italian Federation president, and Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentis.
“We would like football to launch a big campaign against homophobia. Such a popular sport cannot allow such violent messages.”
Sarri apologized to Mancini later and claimed not to be a homophobe, but the Inter boss also accused him of racism.
“Maurizio Sarri is a racist and men like him have no place in football,” fumed Mancini to RAI TV after the game. “He used racist words. He started insulting me and then shouted at me, calling me a poof.”
Mancini said Sarri had used the words “frocio” and “finocchio”, both pejorative terms meaning homosexual.
Sarri, 60, brushed off the exchange as part and parcel of the game. “I’ve seen and heard worse on a pitch,” he said. “The adrenalin of the pitch can push you to make bad jokes, but the arguments should finish at the end of the 90 minutes.”
Italian media speculated yesterday, however, that the Napoli boss could face a suspension for his comments. According to article 11 of the Italian Federation regulations, all “insults or discrimination... for reasons of race, color, religion, language, sex, nationality or ethnic origin” can result in a suspension of at least four months, as well as a heavy fine.
Mancini missed his side’s second goal in the win, and was sent off, as he got involved in the stoppage-time row with Sarri and was clearly livid when he spoke to RAI television a few minutes later.
The row appeared to begin after the fourth official mistakenly indicated nine minutes of added time before changing his mind and indicating five.
Stevan Jovetic and Adem Ljajic scored in the last 20 minutes to send Inter into the semifinals while Serie A leader Napoli had Dries Mertens sent off late in the game for diving.
Inter will next face the winner of the last quarterfinal between Lazio and champion Juventus for a place in the final.
Inter’s city rival AC Milan will play third division Alessandria in the last four. The minnow won 2-1 at second-tier Spezia on Monday while Milan beat Carpi by the same score.
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