Italian Coach: ‘Too Many Colored Players’ on Italy’s Youth Clubs

Former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi says "there are too many colored players" on the youth sides of Italian clubs, and that is affecting "national pride and identity."

Sacchi says he is "certainly not racist and my past as a coach shows that."

Referring to an international youth tournament in Viareggio, he says "I've got to say there are too many colored players, even in the youth squads."

He made his comments at an awards ceremony in Montecatini Terme on Monday night.

Asked by sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport to clarify his statements, Sacchi said: "I only wanted to underline that we're losing our national pride and identity."

Sacchi coached AC Milan before guiding Italy to the 1994 World Cup final. He now writes a regular column for Gazzetta and appears on TV as a commentator.

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