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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2014 20 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL FORMULA 1 Italian Football Federation president Carlo Tavecchio banned for six months by UEFA ITALIAN federation (FIGC) presi- dent Carlo Tavecchio has been barred from the next UEFA Con- gress and from holding any posi- tion with European football's gov- erning body for six months over an alleged racist comment he made August, UEFA said yesterday. UEFA said its disciplinary and ethics panel had also ordered the 71-year-old to organise racism awareness event in Italy. The decision was an embarrass- ment for the FIGC whose own in- vestigation had cleared Tavecchio of any wrongdoing. Tavecchio caused an outcry when he made a comment about a ficti- tious African player he named Opti Poba "eating bananas" during the campaign for the FIGC presi- dency. He was addressing the vexed sub- ject of the lack of opportunities for young Italian players at profes- sional clubs. "In England, they identif y the players coming in and, if they are professional, they are allowed to play," the 71-year-old said. "Here instead we get 'Opti Poba', who previously ate bananas and then suddenly becomes a first- team player with Lazio." Tavecchio made the remarks in a speech to a meeting of the as- sembly of Italy's amateur leagues (LND) of which he was president at the time. Despite the controversy, he swept to victory in the FICG election against former AC Milan midfield- er Demetrio Albertini with the backing of the lower tier clubs and amateur leagues, a result which raised more questions about Ital- ian attitudes to racism in football. "Mr. Tavecchio will be ineligible for any position as a UEFA Official for a period of six months starting from the communication of this decision," UEFA said. "(He) will not participate in the next UEFA Congress scheduled for 24 March 2015; (he) will organise a special event in Italy aimed at increasing awareness and compli- ance with the principles of UEFA's Resolution entitled European Foot- ball united against racism." Carlo Tavecchio has been suspended for six months by Uefa Pirlo gets shock Italy recall as Pelle gets first call Schumacher could 'live a relatively normal life' Andrea Pirlo has been recalled by Italy less than four months after playing what was widely thought to be his final international match THE 2006 World Cup winner, who missed the opening month of the Serie A season with a hip injury, was called up by coach Antonio Conte after forward Giacomo Bonaventu- ra pulled out with a thigh injury, the Italian federation (FIGC) said. Southampton striker Graziano Pelle, 29, received his first call up after an impressive start to life in England following his move from Feyenoord. Despite missing the opening matches of the campaign, the 35- year-old Pirlo was in good form as Juventus ended Roma's 100 per cent record with a 3-2 victory that kept the Bianconeri perfect in Serie A this season. Pirlo said last year that he would quit international football follow- ing the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where Italy's campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay in their final group stage match. Amid all the bitter recriminations which followed the match, includ- ing the resignation of both coach Cesare Prandelli and FIGC presi- dent Giancarlo Abete, it was almost completely forgotten that the game was Pirlo's last for his nation. Following Italy's return home, however, he hinted that he would accept any future call-up. This be- came more likely when Conte, his coach for three successful seasons at Juventus, was appointed coach in July. Andrea Pirlo MICHAEL Schumacher might be able to "live a relatively nor- mal life" after recovering from a ski accident that left him fight- ing for his life, according to FIA president Jean Todt. The German F1 legend spent months several in a coma in a Grenoble hospital after hitting his head while skiing off piste in Meribel at the end of 2013. He underwent nearly three months of treatment in an out- door section of the hospital known as Jardin des Sens, or Garden of the Senses, shielded from view. It specialises in the recovery of severely traumatised neurological patients by expos- ing them to water, scents and other elements. Schumacher was moved back home on September 9 and re- ceived round-the-clock care, and despite initial reports from medical experts claiming that the racing legend would "remain an invalid for rest of his life", FIA president Todt has now stated that the 45-year-old will be able to "live a relatively nor- mal life". "We may assume that Schu- macher can live a relatively nor- mal life within a short period of time," Todt told French radio station RTL. "What we can say is that he will probably never again drive a Formula One car. "He fights. His condition im- proves, which is very important. Jean Todt and Michael Schumacher during their time at Ferrari YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt

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