Coach sacked over Thunberg insult

By Football Italia staff

Serie D club Grosseto have sacked youth coach Tommaso Casalini after he said 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg could “take a pounding”.

Thunberg has become a global figure for taking a stand on climate change, but her actions provoked a vile response from Casalini, who had been assistant Coach of Grosseto’s Giovanissimi A team.

“This w****! A 16-year-old can take a pounding, she’s at the right age,” he wrote on Facebook.

That was followed by the non-League side announcing they had dismissed the trainer for “not acting in line with the club, who focus on moral values ​​even more than technical values​.”

Casalini later issued a grovelling apology for his remarks.

“I’d like to publicly apologise to everyone, starting with Greta Thunberg, for the post I wrote on Facebook last week.

“It was an outburst written in a moment of anger against the young Swedish activist with absolutely the wrong language and content I regret.

“I never thought or could never have really thought about certain things, especially a minor. However, when you make mistakes then it’s only right that you take responsibility for them.

“Therefore I willingly accept Grosseto’s decision to remove me from my role as assistant Coach of the Giovanissimi A, and I apologise to the club for the obvious embarrassment caused by my gesture.”

Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow