Former Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi has said there are “too many black players” in Italian youth football and the country “has no dignity or pride.”
Speaking at an awards ceremony he reportedly said: "I'm certainly not racist and my history as a coach proves that, starting from [Frank] Rijkaard."
"But looking at the Viareggio tournament I feel like saying that there are too many black players, even in the youth teamsl" he said.
The Viareggio tournament is an annual competition for Italy's top youth teams, held in Tuscany.
"Italy has no dignity, no pride. It's not possible that our teams should have 15 foreign players in the squad."
Sacchi later tried to clarify his comments, saying:
"I've been misinterpreted, you think I'm really racist? All I said was I saw a game featuring a team who fielded four coloured players," he told the site.
"My history speaks for itself, I've always coached teams with great players from every colour and I've brought in a lot, whether to Milan or Madrid.
"I only wanted to underline that we are losing our national pride and identity."
Italian football has long suffered from a string of racism incidents, with many large supporters’ groups openly displaying racist banners and a litany of incidents of non-white players being target of racist abuse.
Sacchi won back to back European Cups with Milan in 1989 and 1990, along with one Serie A title. He managed Italy from 1991-96, bringing them to the 94 World Cup final, where they lost on penalties to Brazil.
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