Italy coach says homophobia is as bad as racism: will he continue to play his homophobic player?

Cassano my not be a homophobe in his heart, but he is in his mouth, and his non-apology changes nothing. From The Guardian:

Antonio Cassano was wearing a diamond stud in each earlobe when he announced to a press conference in Krakow this week that he hoped there were no froci – queers, faggots, poofs – in the Italy squad. How times change.

"If I say what I think, there's going to be chaos," he said, his smile and his diamonds twinkling away. "Are there any gays in the dressing room? I hope not. In any case, it's their problem and it's nothing to do with me."

Cassano is a bit of a lad, and he was laughing as he said all this on Tuesday. He had been asked to comment on a claim by the writer and campaigner Alessandro Cecchi Paone that the present Azzurri squad contained three "metrosexuals", two gay players and one bisexual. And, presumably, a partridge in a pear tree.

Just to complicate matters, Cecchi Paone is the author of a recent book on gay people in sport, published with a foreword by Cesare Prandelli, the manager of Italy. Prandelli has said that, in his view, "homophobia is the same as racism".

[...]

Cassano issued a swift apology [sic] for his statement, along the usual PR-scripted lines. "I sincerely regret that my statements have sparked controversy and protests from gay rights groups," the striker said. "Homophobia is a sentiment that is not mine. I did not want to offend anyone and I cannot question the sexual freedom of other people. I only said it is a problem that does not concern me and it is not for me to pass judgment on the choices of others, who are all respected."

[...]

It may be that Cassano just thought he could get away with having a laugh at the press conference. But here is the perfect opportunity for Prandelli to undertake a bit of re-education. He should tell Cassano that not only are his words unacceptable, but so is the thinking behind them – and that he can take the evening off against Croatia on Thursday in order to have a think about it, while donating a portion of his tournament fee to an appropriate anti-discrimination charity.

Compared with the mess of racism, this latest cassanata is a simple business. And it should have a simple conclusion.

Read in full HERE.