Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 9y

Italian FA must cut ties with 'irritating' Claudio Lotito, says Demetrio Albertini

Demetrio Albertini has branded Claudio Lotito "irritating" and says he should not be allowed to continue as an advisor to the Italian Football Association (FIGC).

Lazio president Lotito was recorded in a telephone conversation criticising Lega Serie A and Lega Serie B presidents and the potential promotion of Carpi -- currently leading Serie B -- to the top flight next season.

Lotito said that if clubs such as Carpi, Frosinone or Latina were promoted to Serie A, TV companies would refuse to pay for the rights because they would no longer be attractive enough.

He has been widely condemned for making such remarks, but the FIGC has turned a blind eye. Lotito was current FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio's right-hand man during his election campaign, in which Albertini was his only rival, and he has since held a key role as advisor to the FIGC.

That should change, according to Albertini, who commented on the latest "embarrassing situation" in Italian football in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, starting with an adjective to describe Lotito.

"Irritating," he said. "But none of this surprises me. It's an embarrassing situation which could undermine fans' enthusiasm and passion for the game. I've kept out of everything, but I will never stop being a fan.

"I am not in an election campaign, but if I take a look at the FA, I see something every single day worthy of discussion, and never in a positive way.

"I'm sorry because the FIGC is an institution and social patrimony of the entire country and that is why, in light of what Lotito has said, simply disassociating yourself from those words is not enough."

The FIGC has taken away Lotito's mandate on reforming the Italian game, which will now be Tavecchio's sole responsibility, but he continues to enjoy their support and that of many Serie A club presidents who backed him and Tavecchio over Albertini.

"Some presidents are detached from people who love football," continued Albertini. "When you walk along the street, you can sense that the fans have no trust in them. They suspect all the time that they are only bothered about their own interests."

Lotito's remarks about Carpi were particularly upsetting to Albertini.

"My son's a fan of Sassuolo and he asked me why they should not be allowed to stay in Serie A, even though they beat Inter and Milan," Albertini said. "To start casting doubts over a side's sporting merits is perverse."

On another subject, Albertini said that Antonio Conte would also have been his choice to coach Italy, although he says Roberto Mancini would also have been high up on his list had he been elected president of the FIGC.

"Conte was a great appointment and for me, the priority has got to be to give him time to prepare for the European Championship," said Albertini, 43.

Conte left behind a Juventus side who Albertini feels have matured under Massimiliano Allegri and should now be aiming to go at least as far as they did under Conte in the Champions League, if not further.

"They've got some top players," he said. "I would place them just below the favourites, but they are the only Italian side in [Europe's] top 10 for revenue and their place is among the best eight.

"Of course anything can happen in the knockout stages, but I refuse to think that the best Italian club cannot even aim to win the Champions League.

"Of course Italy needs to give more quality to compete with the Bianconeri, not only to make Serie A more appealing but also to increase the presence of our clubs in the final stages of the European cup competitions."

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