Sweden accuses azzurrini of racism, the FIGC: 'It's not true'

The heaviest accusation, that of racism, falls on the blue Under 21 after yesterday's match in Monza with Sweden for the qualifications for the next European championships in the category.

The Swedish football team, with a note published on its official website, accused a blue player of having addressed racist insults against Anthonu Elanga.

"On the occasion of the qualifying match for the European Under 21 Championship against Italy in Monza on Tuesday - reads the note - Anthony Elanga said after the match that he was the subject of a racist comment by an opponent of the national team. Italian Under 21 ". 

"We told our version of what happened and we presented an oral report to both the referees and the match delegates - said the Under 21 manager Claes Eriksson - We are now awaiting feedback through the match report and the match report. 'referee. Once we arrive, we will decide how to proceed. Security Officer Martin Fredman has also been informed of the incident. " "Nobody should be exposed to racism, it is completely unacceptable. We all support and support Anthony in this," concluded Eriksson.

"The FIGC absolutely denies that an Under 21 player expressed racist offenses against an opponent, an episode which, as far as we know, was not detected by the match officials or the delegate UEFA ". Thus the FIGC responds to the accusations of the Swedish football federation. "Hoping that the competent bodies will promptly clarify" the FIGC reaffirms "the constant commitment of all Italian football and the national teams to combat racism and condemns any discriminatory insult or episode of violence".

"In relation to what was reported by the Swedish Football Association on its website and taken up by some media, the FIGC absolutely denies that a player of the Under 21 National Team, during the Italy - Sweden match played yesterday in Monza, expressed racist offenses against an opponent, an episode among other things that, as far as we know, was not noticed by the match officials or the UEFA delegate ", reads the note from the FIGC. "Hoping that the competent bodies will promptly clarify the case, as emerges from the television images broadcast by Rai 2 yesterday and still available on RaiPlay, after the equalizer, in the 92nd minute,two Swedish footballers rejoice for a long time for the goal and are recalled by the Italian players to resume the game quickly - continues the note - We reiterate that no offense with a racist background was pronounced before, at that time or later and that the FIGC will protect, in all competent offices, their image and that of their players. At the same time, the FIGC reaffirms the constant commitment made by all Italian football and in particular by the national teams, through numerous initiatives, to combat racism and once again condemns any discriminatory insult or episode of violence ".their image and that of their players. At the same time, the FIGC reaffirms the constant commitment made by all Italian football and in particular by the national teams, through numerous initiatives, to combat racism and once again condemns any discriminatory insult or episode of violence ".their image and that of their players. At the same time, the FIGC reaffirms the constant commitment made by all Italian football and in particular by the national teams, through numerous initiatives, to combat racism and once again condemns any discriminatory insult or episode of violence ".