TheCable

Former AC Milan coach, Arrigo Sacchi, has denied been a racist after criticising the number of black players in Italian youth teams.

The 68-year-old, who guided AC Milan to back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990 and the Serie A title in 1988 was quoted to have said that “there are too many black players, even in the youth teams”, following Inter’s triumph in the Viareggio tournament.

Sacchi later backtracked saying he was “misrepresented”.

“I have been misrepresented,” he said.

“How could I be racist?

“I just said I saw a game featuring a team who fielded four coloured boys. My history speaks for itself, I always coached teams with different colours and I bought many, both at Milan and at Madrid.

“I just wanted to point out that we are losing our national pride and identity.”

Sacchi was Italy coach when they were runners-up in USA ’94 World Cup.

Last October, the president of the Italian football federation, Carlo Tavecchio, was banned for six months by UEFA for making racist remarks.

Tavecchio called foreign players “banana eaters” during his election campaign in July.