The Italian football federation (FIGC) has responded harshly to FIFA president Joseph Blatter for apologizing to Australia for their elimination by world champions Italy at this summer's World Cup.
Italian media yesterday reported bitter comments from the federation after Blatter at the weekend told an Australian television channel that the Socceroos should have advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals instead of Italy.
The Italians, playing with 10 men, beat Australia 1-0 in Kaiserslautern through a controversial penalty in stoppage time after Lucas Neill had brought down Fabio Grosso. The Australians claimed Grosso took a dive.
FIGC commissioner and former international Gigi Riva was quoted as advising Blatter "to take a clinical test," saying: "Words travel worldwide and he, as president, is certainly not a good example."
However, the La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper yesterday quoted Blatter as saying he "never debated that Italy are deservedly the world champions."
The Milan daily commented that if Blatter "for one time stopped to try and appease everyone, there would be far less misunderstandings."
Riva, who was the Azzurri team manager at the World Cup in Germany said that "we deserve far more respect than what Blatter is showing. We are the ones who won the World Cup."
Relationships between Italy and Blatter have been tense since he did not attend the ceremony at the Berlin stadium where the Azzurri won the final against France on July 9.
"It was the first time ever that it did not happen," Riva said. "And let's not forget the two-game suspension against Materazzi, which made the whole world laugh."
Defender Marco Materazzi was banned for insulting French star Zinedine Zidane, who head-butted him in the chest and was dismissed during the final.
Riva added he believed the apologies to Australia "are certainly a political move to have their vote at the next elections [in May]. But he should not damage Italy for his own interests."
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