Italian football club exec banned for ‘kick that Filipino’ comment

Sampdoria’s president Massimo Ferrero. AFP FILE PHOTO

ROME — Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has been suspended for three months for a discriminatory comment aimed at his Inter Milan colleague.

The Italian football federation said Monday that Ferrero has also been fined 10,000 euros ($12,400), while Sampdoria has been handed a 35,000 euro ($43,500) fine.

During an interview on a television show on Oct. 26, Ferrero said he told former Inter president Massimo Moratti to “kick out that Filipino” in reference to Indonesian entrepreneur and current Inter president Erick Thohir.

Ferrero later apologized for the remark, saying he was merely trying to praise Moratti.

It is the latest racism gaffe to hit Italian soccer. Federation president Carlo Tavecchio is serving a six-month UEFA and FIFA ban following a racist comment during his election campaign.