The heaviest accusation, that of racism, falls on the blue Under 21 after yesterday's match in Monza with Sweden for the qualifications for the next European championships in the category. The Swedish football association, through an official note, speaks of a racist insult that an Italy player would have uttered yesterday against Anthony Elanga. Immediate reply from the FIGC which "absolutely denies that an Under 21 player, during Italy-Sweden yesterday in Monza, expressed racist offenses against an opponent".
THE ACCUSATIONS - On its official website, the Swedish football federation has published a note in which it denounces that "on the occasion of the qualifying match for the European Under-21 Championship against Italy in Monza on Tuesday, Anthony Elanga declared after the match of having been the subject of a racist comment by an opponent of the Italian Under 21 national team ”.
"We told our version of what happened and we presented an oral report to both the referees and the match delegates - said the Under 21 manager Claes Eriksson - We are now awaiting feedback through the match report and the match report. 'referee. Once we arrive, we will decide how to proceed. Security Officer Martin Fredman has also been informed of the incident. " "Nobody should be exposed to racism, it is completely unacceptable. We all support and support Anthony in this," concluded Eriksson.
THE REPLICATION - Immediate and dry reply from the FIGC which rejects the accusations to the sender and reminds "the constant commitment of all Italian football and the national teams, for the fight against racism and condemns any discriminatory insult or episode of violence".
"The FIGC absolutely denies that a player of the Under 21 national team, during the Italy-Sweden match played yesterday in Monza, expressed racist offenses against an opponent, an episode among other things that, as far as we know , was not found by the match officials or the UEFA delegate ", reads the note from the FIGC. "We hope that the competent bodies will promptly clarify the case, as emerges from the televised images broadcast." "After the equalizer, in the 92nd minute - continues the note - two Swedish players rejoice for a long time for the goal and are recalled by the players Italians to resume the game quickly. We reiterate that no racist offense was pronounced before, at that time or subsequently and that the FIGC will protect its image and that of its players in all competent fora. "
(Unioneonline / vl)
