Home - video - article
Cassano 'hopes' there are no gays in Italy squad
Posted Wednesday, June 13, 2012 by SNTV

Intro:

Italy forward Antonio Cassano speaks his mind on homosexuality in football and Mario Balotelli ahead of Italy's Group C clash with Croatia.

Script:

Not your average pre-match press conference ahead of Italy's second Group C game against Croatia.

After being asked by an Italian reporter if he thought there might be some undeclared homosexual players on the team, forward Antonio Cassano was far from diplomatic.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) Italy forward Antonio Cassano:
"If I think about what I could say, you know what could happen. That's their problem, they're gay, I won't say more, because if not, you know I'll be attacked from every direction. They're gay, it's their problem, I hope there aren't any in the national team".

Cassano's controversial remarks were made worse by the use of a derogatory word to describe homosexuals.

Italy already have one trouble magnet in striker Mario Balotelli, but Cassano was quick to defend his partner in crime.

SOUNDBITE (Italian) Italy forward Antonio Cassano:
"Today you only talk about Balotelli, OK, let's talk about Balotelli. I have a great relationship with Mario, They told me, "you should be his tutor", can you believe it? I should be his tutor, and who looks after me? I don't know. I have a great relationship with him, both on and off the pitch. Sure we can improve, and we have to, we never played together after all, just a couple of matches. We can only improve from where we are".

Racism in Poland and Ukraine dominated the build up to the tournament, but Cassano's comments are sure to stir the debate on the dark prejudices that still lurk in football.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia