The Italian Association of Coaches, the AIAC, replied to the Order of Journalists, who asked for an apology from Inter coach Antonio Conte, due to the cancelled press conference on Saturday, following on from an abusive letter published about the coach in Friday’s edition of Corriere dello Sport.

The statement defends Conte and the decision to cancel the press conference. It was signed by the president of the AIAC, Renzo Ulivieri.

“Writing this statement does not please us, for the respect we have for the union of sport media and for the path we have taken and that we want to continue to take together.”

“However, we have forced ourselves and we have to take sides not because Conte is a coach, but out of a sense of justice.”

“The email of a reader published by Corriere dello Sport is offensive and was wrong. Because there was no obligation to publish it and wasn’t even obliged to share it: unless ‘to his wickedness I’ll add mine.’”

“And, in my opinion, all those who did not distance themselves were wrong. I would like to take up the aforementioned article 21 of the Constitution: ‘everyone has the right to freely express his thoughts in words, in writing and in any other means of dissemination.”

“I think it also applies to Conte who wanted to express his thoughts. We cannot share the idea that those who offend, then, without making a minimum reference to the offence done, take the right to evaluate the extent of the response of the offended. And in addition, and perhaps on this occasion I think we can speak of arrogance, also because of the desire to choose the time for the apology (to come post match).”

“I share the idea that respect for others is the basis of civil life, but I also think that the idea is that if you want respect first you must respect others.”

“With the statement from the union of sport media, inadvertently, in the end we come to confirm the theory that ‘I can write that you are finsihed, but you must be quiet and say nothing.’ If this theory is correct, it is not Article 21 that is being ignored, but the ideal and moral values that inspire our Constitution.”

“We believe that Conte should not give an apology, at least in the times that the union of sport media would like to impose. We believe that if, in a few days’ time, a middle ground was found, this would be the most desirable solution. Without disturbing the Federal Prosecutor’s Office.”