Italy declines comment on Cassano remarks on gays

POZNAN, Poland – Italy coach Cesare Prandelli and his players are not commenting on Antonio Cassano's remarks on gay soccer players a day before their Euro match with Croatia.

Cassano said Tuesday that he hopes there are no homosexual players on the national team at the European Championship, then used a derogatory word to describe gays. Hours later, he issued a statement saying, "I'm sincerely sorry that my statements created controversy and protests from gay associations."

Prandelli says, "We don't want to sound discourteous — we've always been willing to take on any type of subject — but we'll return to that when we're calmer, not on the eve of a key match."