FIGC President Gabriele Gravina has spoken on the racist chants heard during Inter’s match with Napoli that came from a segment of Inter’s support and were directed toward Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
“Football yesterday [Wednesday] was a victim twice. Those who cultivate violence using football believe that it is someone who has nothing to do with our world. You can not think of giving in to some villains and blocking the desire of others to cheer. It takes the right antibodies and we have decided that football will be played this weekend,” he said in an interview with Rai Sport.
Gravina was then asked if the FIGC were heading toward a zero-tolerance policy.
“Yes, there is no more time to be tolerant. The timeliness of the work carried out by Marcello Cardona is a good omen I think. We must activate mechanisms that accompany us to quickly coincide the protection of sporting competition and the protection of people who are of public interest.
“Lately too many people have said things different to what is provided by the Federation. Nobody, except myself in this sense can comment but we must respect the institutional roles that everyone has.”
He concluded the interview by speaking on Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti’s threats that he and his side will walk off if it happens again and Inter’s statement that condemned the actions of their fans.
“If Napoli leaves the field, they will lose that game. Allow me to applaud the Inter statement. This is the attitude that we must communicate. The image of the embrace between Icardi and Koulibaly is extraordinary: this is the football we must try to instil, not only in the minds, but also in the hearts of our fans.”
