Lead of the week
Italy’s FA - backing a two-game homophobia ban for Napoli’s Maurizio Sarri over his touchline “faggot” rant - two months after FA president Carlo Tavecchio was recorded saying: “I’ve nothing against gays, just keep them away from me.” Tavecchio, banned for racism in 2014, denied prejudice: “I respect everyone’s choices.”
• Among the early verdicts on Sarri’s case – Bologna director Pantaleo Corvino: “The press reaction is too extreme. Sarri didn’t kill anyone, he just used a colourful expression. Clearly he meant no offence.”
Also misunderstood
• Portugal: Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho - denying homophobia after criticising a referee with lines including: “I would have kicked him in the butt, but looking at him I was afraid he’d enjoy it.” Carvalho: “It was taken out of context.”
• And new from Spain’s war on sexism: Sporting de Huelva player Elena Pavel alleging referee Santiago Quijada Alcon asked her out during a game – two weeks after another male referee was banned for booking an Albacete B player by telling her: “Give us a twirl, gorgeous, so I can see your number.” He apologised “for any offence”.
Zero tolerance latest
2016: Chelsea sack a steward for calling Cesc Fàbregas a “snake”. 2012: Chelsea don’t sack John Terry for calling Anton Ferdinand a “black cunt”. “Chelsea appreciates, and supports, John’s full apology for the language he used.”
Plus: coming soon
Last week’s top stories on Sunderland’s website: 1) Sunderland celebrate the 20th anniversary of Show Racism the Red Card; 2) Sunderland to host a special evening with Roy “Chubby” Brown: “The 70-year-old will discuss how his sarcastic blue humour continues to amuse audiences across the UK.”
Other news: best fresh start
Uefa head Gianni Infantino, declaring €500,000 in financial backing from Uefa for his Fifa presidential campaign. Infantino said the sum, signed off by Uefa executives three months ago, “covers the cost of my travels around the world”.
Coolest reception
Ghana FA head Kwesi Nyantakyi, weighing up an approach for support from one of Infantino’s Fifa rivals, Tokyo Sexwale. “Sleeping in the same prison room with Nelson Mandela is not enough to win the Fifa presidency. All his campaign messages were just that; I was the rugby secretary at Robben Island, I was the chairman of the football team at Robben Island, I slept in the same room at the Robben Island and so on. Even I’m more experienced and competent than him.”
Family man of the week
Nigeria FA head Amaju Pinnick: calling rival Chris Giwa “a bastard” during a mediation session, with security stepping in to “prevent bloodshed”. Pinnick’s vision for the job in 2014 when Fifa ratified his election win despite allegations the vote was “illegal, violent and abusive”: “There is no victor, no vanquished. Ours is just one big, marvellous family and here, football is the winner.”
Tribute of the week
France: Montpellier president Louis Nicollin, asked how he felt when coach Rolland Courbis resigned last month before he could sack him: “I just say it’s not normal. A captain never abandons ship. What was that Costa Concordia guy called? He’s the same guy.”
Ominous news
France, 12 Jan: Rennes president René Ruello hires free agent Courbis as “presidential adviser”, and denies it represents ominous news for under-pressure coach Philippe Montanier: “Courbis will just add some wise counsel as we perfect our imperfections. He does not replace Philippe.” 20 Jan: He does.
Most unlucky
Romania: Rapid Bucharest owner Valerii Moraru, revealing why his players have gone unpaid for another month: “I tried to transfer some money to the club that a supermarket chain owed me, but Chinese hackers got in and hacked it. That’s why.” Unnamed player: “This man believes he can fool us forever.”
Most wired
Italy: Messina president Natale Stracuzzi, backtracking a day after sacking his goalkeeper during an early-hours Facebook rant - “It’s 4am and I cannot sleep. We were humiliated … Berardi never plays again.” Deputy Pietro Gugliotta: “Natale just had a bit of an outburst. He was really tired.”
Move of the week
China: Brazilian striker Elkeson, revealing what first attracted him to an €18m move to Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Shanghai SIPG on a lucrative deal. “It’s for the challenge. I’ve been searching for this type of challenge. I hope for more success.”
Plus: most reflective
Italy: Sampdoria’s Antonio Cassano, 33, asked to reflect on whether he has wasted his talent: “I am lazy. But in life you have to be happy, and I am.” Making him happy in 2008, as set out in his book: “I’ve only had four girlfriends in 11 years - that’s very few. But I’ve also done it with 600-700 women. In Madrid it was easy because I lived in a hotel and the bellboy was my good friend: it was his job to bring me three pastries after sex. He would hand me the pastries, I would hand him the girl. Sex plus pastries - could it be any better?”
