The Official Azzurri thread 2

[red]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... dset-spain

[Bagg10]

http://www.corrieredellosport.it/video/ ... o+di+no%22

I'm really disappointed in his response...

[p_maldini_3]

don't take it personally, vagg, he just wants you guys to stay in the closet.

[Italiamia]

[RomaShield27]

Why is Bagg really disappointed in his response? Is he offended, like? Or joking? Don't think there's much in Cassano's words, like Giovanni said he's always been a bit dumb, big deal being made out of it.

[Bagg10]

I'm not gay , but I don't believe in the gender binary/labels of sexual orientation. We're all equal regardless of our gender, sexual orientation, race, religion etc... It would just be nice to see a high profile player stand up for human rights instead of using a derogatory term against homosexuals.

[juventino_italiano]

I agree with Gianni.
I think he was just trying to subtley tell the reporter to stop wasting his time with pointless questions.

Fucking italian media is useless

[Italiamia]

[Bagg10]

I agree that the question wasn't relevant. He could have simply pointed that out or said "no comment".

[Lombardiamia]

The question isn't out of context if you ask me. Cecchi Paone (a scientist, TV regular and a declared gay) just recently declared that there are currently 2 gay players playing with the NT. It may not be a question strictly relevant to the game, just like it ain't relevant say what Balotelli does at night, but it's still relevant to the NT for the general public. Than Cassano is an easy target so....

Having said that I agree with what Bagg said earlier. Would be nice to see someone stand up for these people.

[Italiamia]

[Lombardiamia]

[RomaShield27]

COMUNICATO STAMPA
Cracovia 12 giugno 2012

http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresour ... wnload.pdf

In serata, dal ritiro azzurro, Antonio Cassano ha voluto chiarire la portata e il senso delle sue dichiarazioni in risposta, durante la conferenza stampa del pomeriggio, alla domanda di un giornalista sul rapporto tra calcio e omosessualita': "Mi dispiace sinceramente che le mie dichiarazioni abbiano acceso polemiche e proteste tra le associazioni gay: l'omofobia e' un sentimento che non mi appartiene; non volevo offendere nessuno e non voglio assolutamente mettere in discussione la liberta' sessuale delle persone. Ho solo detto che e' un problema che non mi riguarda e non mi permetto di esprimere giudizi sulle scelte di altri, che vanno tutte rispettate".


"Homophobia is away from me. Didn't mean offend anybody nor question sexual freedom of people"

[Bagg10]

Tuesday June 12 2012

Cassano homophobia condemned
By Football Italia staff

As expected, Antonio Cassano’s homophobic statements in a Press conference today brought a wave of condemnation from the Italian media.

The Italy and Milan star was asked whether there were any gay players in the squad and his answer raised many eyebrows.

“It’s their problem. If they are gay (though he used a far more offensive Italian term, ndr), then that’s their problem.

“If I say what I really think, then there’s going to be chaos. Are there any gays in the locker room? I hope not. In any case, it’s their problem and nothing to do with me.”

The man who had to translate the interview for UEFA admitted to Sky Sport Italia it was “the toughest job of my life. I tried to smooth over some of it and use less vulgar terms.”

Even the journalist who helped write Cassano’s autobiography was shocked.

“I know Cassano is not homophobic,” wrote Pierluigi Pardo on Twitter.

“However, that doesn’t take away from the fact he made a huge mistake in saying those things and above all using that word.”

When video of the Press conference is played on Italian television, they tend to bleep out the offensive phrase.

The question was asked because journalist Alessandro Cecchi Paone – who wrote a book on gay figures in sport with a foreword by Italy Coach Cesare Prandelli – said this week there were two gay players in the current Azzurri side and one bisexual.

“Once the Euros are over, I invite Cassano to dinner so I can explain to him how wrong he is on this, because I think his ideas are a little confused,” said Cecchi Paone.

“I want to help him understand that he was very rude to his teammates who are forced to hide themselves. By being forced to hide, they cannot play their best football.”

Cecchi Paone then dropped another bombshell on with regards to his statement.

“I had a relationship with one of the players in this team and he told me who the other gay player was, which is why I know there are two,” he told Radio 24.

“Prandelli knows who the homosexuals are. As for when I said there are three metrosexuals, it was a compliment aimed at Sebastian Giovinco, Riccardo Montolivo and Ignazio Abate.”

Metrosexual is a phrase used to describe a modern man in an urban setting who spends a great deal of time and money on his appearance.

http://www.football-italia.net/19898/ca ... -condemned

[Bagg10]

Tuesday June 12 2012

Cassano: 'I'm not homophobic'
By Football Italia staff

Antonio Cassano has released a statement attempting to calm the furore over his statements. “I am not homophobic and didn’t want to offend anyone.”

The Italy and Milan star used a particularly offensive word in today’s Press conference when asked whether there were any gay players in the squad.

“I am sincerely sorry if my comments sparked controversy and protests among gay rights associations,” read the statement issued this evening.

“Homophobia is not something that is part of my nature. I didn’t want to offend anyone and I absolutely do not want to put anyone’s sexual freedom under duress.

“I only said that it’s a problem that has nothing to do with me and I do not judge the choices of others, which should be respected.”

Author Alessandro Cecchi Paone increased the attention over this issue by stating he "had a relationship with one of the players in this team and he told me who the other gay player was, which is why I know there are two.

“Cesare Prandelli knows who the homosexuals are."

http://www.football-italia.net/19904/ca ... homophobic

[Bagg10]

The problem is that even if he doesn't mean to judge homosexuals or offend them, when he uses a derogatory term for them, he's judging and offending them no matter what else he adds to the sentence.

If I were to say "Faggots are faggots, it's their problem."

1. The term "faggot" in itself shows negative judgement/feelings
2. "it's their problem", can mean one of two things. a) there is something wrong with being homosexual. b) discrimination against them is okay as long as I'm not the one directly committing the action.

Not to mention he also says that he hopes that he doesn't have any homosexual teammates...

[Lombardiamia]

Cecchi Paone: "Ho avuto storia con un azzurro. I tre metrosexual sono..."

Dopo l'uscita, a dir poco infelice, di Antonio Cassano di oggi in conferenza stampa sugli omosessuali nel calcio, è arrivata la risposta di Alessandro Cecchi Paone, che a Radio 24 ha spiegato: "Ho avuto una relazione con uno di questa nazionale, e lui mi ha detto chi e' l'altro, per questo so che sono due. Prandelli certo che lo sa chi sono gli omosessuali. I tre metrosexual (termine che indica una cura maniacale per l'aspetto) sono Giovinco, Montolivo e Abate. E' anche un complimento. Cassano? Venga a pranzo con me che gli spiego che non c'e' nessun danno ad avere un gay in squadra".

[Bagg10]

Let the Italian media witch-hunt begin...

[red]

Press must have got bored with nothing new coming out about the match-fixing investigation for the last couple of days to ask Cassano such a question.

[p_maldini_3]

isn't their an accusation of faggotry against every italian NT? i'm pretty sure this came up last time around too.