Italy’s defender #05 Gianluca Mancini fights for the ball with Turkey’s defender #21 Baris Alper Yilmaz during the international friendly football match between Italy and Turkey as part of their preparation for the UEFA Euro 2024 European football championships, at the Dall’Ara Stadium on June 4, 2024 in Bologna. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Gianluca Mancini admits to being affected by the ‘shocking’ images coming out of Gaza, but Italy players are not in a position to boycott the 2026 World Cup qualifier with Israel. ‘We do what we are told.’
The Azzurri are at their training camp at Coverciano, outside Florence, ahead of the first two matches under new coach Gennaro Gattuso.
They will be against Estonia on Friday September 5 and Israel on Monday September 8, the latter played on neutral turf in Debrecen.
Following the statement from the Italian Coaches’ Association calling for the temporary suspension of Israel from UEFA and FIFA competition over the situation in Palestine, players inevitably faced questions on whether the game ought to go ahead.
Mancini sees Italy in awkward position
“I have mainly a feeling of great sadness, I put myself in the shoes of those fathers who hold their children in their arms, these are shocking images,” replied Roma defender Mancini in today’s press conference.
“However, as the coach said, we do what we are told. If they tell us to play, then we will play, we are not the ones tasked with these decisions. As a father and a man, everything that’s happening is tragic.”
The biggest concerns are for the return match, when Italy will host Israel at the Stadio Friuli in Udine on October 14.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin was also pressed in an interview with Politico on why Israel continued to be included in their tournaments.
“What’s happening to civilians in Gaza hurts me personally. It’s impossible to see these things anymore. On the other hand, I’m not a supporter of the disqualification of athletes,” said Ceferin.
“What can an athlete do to pressure his government to stop the war? It’s very, very difficult. Russian teams have been disqualified for three and a half years. Is the war over? It’s not over.
“I must say that with the situation in Russia and Ukraine, there was very strong political pressure. Now it’s more from civil society than from politicians, because politicians are obviously very pragmatic when it comes to wars and victims.
“I can’t say what will happen. Everything is being discussed, but I personally am against the disqualification of athletes.”
Image:Getty
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