The disgraced Italian TV pundit sacked for making a ‘banana’ jibe about Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku insists he is ‘not racist’ as his ‘partner is black’.
Luciano Passirani, 80, was slammed for his ill-judged comments on TopCalcio24 where he said the only way to stop the Belgian striker – who was racially abused by Cagliari fans in just his second Serie A appearance – is to give ‘him 10 bananas to eat’.
Ian Holloway reacts as Romelu Lukaku is racially abused in Italy
Station director Fabio Ravezzani quickly apologised live on air, and Passirani was shown the door soon after.
He has since attempted to clear his name and set the record straight, revealing that he has struggled to sleep and eat following the incident and stressed that his multi-cultural background means there’s no way he can be deemed a racist.
“I am 80-years-old,” said Passirani. “I have been in the world of football for 40 years.
“I have never received a disqualification for behaviour in any of the roles I have held, but I accept the decision made against me.
“I would like not to pass for a racist. My partner who has lived with me for 17 years is black, I have two little black nieces, my son’s daughters.
“I am not a racist and I believe I am an educated person in every respect.
“I did not sleep tonight, today I could not eat, a lack of tact and education does not belong to my way of being.”
Passirani also said that he has ‘never had any problems’ with players of black ethnicity during his lengthy broadcasting career to date.
“I’m not a racist, I’d like to apologise to Lukaku in person, I wish I could meet him,” he added.
“In my career I met so many black players and I never had any problems.
“A lot of people called me, I think I’m an educated person, but this unintended phrase made me very sad.”
