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Sacchi: "Tavecchio elected by power groups, not for common good"
Sacchi began by defending himself against a racism charge brought, ironically, by a certain Sepp Blatter a few years ago ("Me, racist after coaching football for 43 years, where I've had more black players under my wing than anyone else?") before revealing he'd nearly resigned when Milan president Berlusconi didn't want to sign Frank Rijkaard.
"I was coaching Milan, and I wanted Frank Rijkaard. Berlusconi, on the other hand, had eyes only for claudio Borghi, there was no way I could change his mind. So I resigned. Only then did Berlusconi finally cave in".
We have translated the rest of the interview below:
Arrigo Sacchi: "Football and sport aren't the only ones guilty of omerta. Rather, they are because the country is. Football is a metaphor for everyday life".
Corriere dello Sport: What do you mean?
Well, we live in a system where privilege still rules the roost, where certain interests come before value or merit. Ever seen a federation president be elected because of a program?
Even Tavecchio?
Tavecchio isn't racist, not even a xenophobe. I know him well. He talks as if he were in a bar. He should stop.
You were talking about the presidential elections?
I'm basing my reasoning on Tavecchio. The election of the president is done through power groups, and certainly not with the common good in mind. And Tavecchio himself wasn't elected because he had a good program. It's of secondary importance in our system.
Are you worried about the growth of sport in Italy?
Diva-like attitudes and business are killing sport.
How do preserve sport, then?
By respecting values, merit, physical and sporting education, and working with youth".
Then again, you left after four years at the head of the Italy's youth setup...
I think we did a good job, despite countless mistakes and difficulties. Certain proposals, certain very valid projects were blocked, they went against certain interests so they encountered resistance, and were never able to get off the ground.
With Tavecchio unwilling to resign, why don't you run against him?
Something similar was proposed to me in the past. But I immediately understood the power plays, what went on behind the scenes, I opted to stay out of it.
But I have a question: if we wash people's faces, how can we be sure that the heart, the body, the soul are clean?
