June 14, 2012
Italy Declines Comment on Cassano Remarks on Gays
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
POZNAN, Poland (AP) - Italy coach Cesare Prandelli and his players are not commenting on Antonio Cassano's remarks on gay soccer players a day before their Euro match with Croatia.
Cassano said Tuesday that he hopes there are no homosexual players on the national team at the European Championship, then used a derogatory word to describe gays. Hours later, he issued a statement saying, "I'm sincerely sorry that my statements created controversy and protests from gay associations."
Prandelli says, "We don't want to sound discourteous - we've always been willing to take on any type of subject - but we'll return to that when we're calmer, not on the eve of a key match."