Prandelli denies Italy pullout
Source: AFP |
June 23, 2013, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ITALY coach Cesare Prandelli on Friday dismissed rumors that his players have asked to pull out of the Confederations Cup in Brazil due to the huge protests that have swept the country.
An estimated 1.25 million people took to the streets in scores of cities on Thursday evening to call for better public services and to criticize the cost of organizing the Confederations Cup and next year's World Cup.
Many of the protest marches, which began last week, have culminated in violent clashes between demonstrators and riot police, but Prandelli said the Italy squad had no plans to leave the country.
"Our officials have absolutely not proposed going home," he said during a press conference in Salvador, the day before Italy's final Group A game against host Brazil.
"Tomorrow is a football match and we don't want that kind of confrontation outside the stadium. It would be a paradox to play football, to offer joy in the stadium, and to have violence 50 meters away.
"It would be an unacceptable contradiction."
He added: "Apparently in recent days the situation has changed. In Rio, everything went well, we could visit the city without problems.
"In Recife and here, as a precaution, they've asked us not to leave the hotel, but going home? No, we absolutely haven't thought of that."
Italy's players remained inside their hotel on Friday.
An estimated 1.25 million people took to the streets in scores of cities on Thursday evening to call for better public services and to criticize the cost of organizing the Confederations Cup and next year's World Cup.
Many of the protest marches, which began last week, have culminated in violent clashes between demonstrators and riot police, but Prandelli said the Italy squad had no plans to leave the country.
"Our officials have absolutely not proposed going home," he said during a press conference in Salvador, the day before Italy's final Group A game against host Brazil.
"Tomorrow is a football match and we don't want that kind of confrontation outside the stadium. It would be a paradox to play football, to offer joy in the stadium, and to have violence 50 meters away.
"It would be an unacceptable contradiction."
He added: "Apparently in recent days the situation has changed. In Rio, everything went well, we could visit the city without problems.
"In Recife and here, as a precaution, they've asked us not to leave the hotel, but going home? No, we absolutely haven't thought of that."
Italy's players remained inside their hotel on Friday.
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