Former AC Milan Coach, Sacchi: 'Too many black players' in Italy under-20 ranks

Former AC Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi said on Monday that Italy's youth set-up is filled with 'too many blacks' and 'too many foreigners'.

The 68 year old who coached Milan between 1996-97 insisted that he is not racist, but feels that an increase in black and foreign players is a bad thing for football in Italy.

"Italian football is now without dignity or pride because it has too many foreigners playing in the youth teams," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "In our youth sides there are too many black players. 

"I'm certainly not racist, which my history as a coach proves, starting with Frank Rijkaard, but watching the Viareggio Tournament, I would say that there are too many black players. "Italy has no dignity, no pride. You cannot have teams made up of 15 foreigners."

 He added, "I have been misinterpreted. Imagine if I was racist. I only said that I saw at a game with a team that fielded four black guys.

 "My story is clear, I always coached teams with different colours and I bought many, both in Milan and at Real Madrid. I just wanted to point out that we are losing pride and our national identity." 

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