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Sports

UEFA bans Italian football federation president Tavecchio for 6 months for racist comment

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    In this photo taken on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, Paolo Tavecchio adjusts his tie prior to a friendly soccer match between Italy and The Netherlands in Bari, Italy. UEFA has banned Italian soccer federation president Carlo Tavecchio for six months following a racist comment during his electoral campaign. Tavecchio, a long-standing executive in Italian football, was elected president in August despite causing a stir over a reference to bananas when discussing the presence of foreign players in Italy. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (The Associated Press)

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    In this photo taken on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, Paolo Tavecchio waits for the start of a friendly soccer match between Italy and The Netherlands in Bari, Italy. UEFA has banned Italian soccer federation president Carlo Tavecchio for six months following a racist comment during his electoral campaign. Tavecchio, a long-standing executive in Italian football, was elected president in August despite causing a stir over a reference to bananas when discussing the presence of foreign players in Italy. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (The Associated Press)

NYON, Switzerland – UEFA has banned Italian football federation president Carlo Tavecchio for six months following a racist comment during his election campaign.

Tavecchio, a long-standing executive in Italian football, was elected president in August despite causing a stir over a reference to bananas when discussing the presence of foreign players in Italy.

On Tuesday, UEFA announced its decision, adding that Tavecchio will be unable to attend its next congress in March and will also have to "organize a special event in Italy aimed at increasing awareness ... against racism."

Tavecchio, who has a UEFA role as a member of its youth and amateur football committee, will continue as head of the FIGC.

The Italian federation's internal prosecutor dropped his inquiry over the comment but UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Tavecchio last month.