Sacked Italian TV pundit Luciano Passirani has offered an odd defence after speaking for the first time since saying the only way to stop Romelu Lukaku was “if you have ten bananas to give him.”
The 80-year-old Italian was fired by station TopCalcio24 after being immediately condemned by the station’s director, Fabio Ravezzani, for his racist comments.
And now Passirani has bid to prove he is “not a racist” by revealing his partner of 17 years and two granddaughters are black.
“I am 80 years old,” Passirani told broadcaster Telelombardia, as reported by Corriere dello Sport.
“I have been in the world of football for 40 years, I have never received a disqualification for behaviour in any of the roles I have held, but I accept the decision made against me.
“I would like not to pass for a racist. My partner who has lived with me for 17 years is black, I have two little black granddaughters, my son’s daughters. I am not a racist and I believe I am an educated person in every respect.
“In my career I met so many black players and I never had any problems.”
Lukaku has been subjected to multiple racist incidents since arriving at Inter Milan this summer.
The former Manchester United and Chelsea striker was met with monkey chants by home fans as he prepared to take a penalty at Cagliari.
That prompted a response from Inter Milan’s ‘ultras’ that claimed the chants were “not racist” but a “form of respect”, and that Italy does not have a racism problem.
Passirani has claimed that he was horrified by the reaction to his comment and would like the opportuinty to apologise to Lukaku - who has called for more to be done to remove such incidents from the Italian game – in person.
“A lot of people called me, I think I’m an educated person, but this unintended phrase made me very sad,” Passirani reflected.
“I’m not a racist, I’d like to apologise to Lukaku in person, I wish I could meet him.
“I did not sleep tonight, today I could not eat, a lack of tact and education does not belong to my way of being.’
