Commentator defends sexist remarks

By Football Italia staff

Italian commentator Sergio Vessicchio has come back out in defence of his sexist remarks about a lineswoman. “I made her famous…”

Vessicchio was commentating on the regional fixture between Campanian sides Agropoli and Sant’Agnello when he launched his sexist tirade against female assistant referee Annalisa Moccia.

Although he ended up apologising, the journalist has now tried to justify his controversial comments.

“I was misinterpreted and so I ended up in the meat grinder,” he told Radio 24.

“I can’t take women in men’s football. I didn’t offend the woman. I only said it was disgusting that the FIGC sent men and women to football fields together, which is unacceptable promiscuity.

“Unsightly is the fact that a woman can’t enter a field with 22 males. She absolutely can’t be there. If you come here, you’ll realise what dangers it poses.

“First of all, they’re harassed, beaten, insulted. The head of the referees Nicchi should resign.

“He has to leave because he doesn’t know what goes on in Campania. Women don’t officiate Juventus-Fiorentina, that’s discrimination.

“Women should stay with women and men with men. For me it’s a basic principle. And women are even better, they’re superior.

“They officiate better, while the standard of [men’s] refereeing in Italy is disgusting. If anyone thinks I was wrong then I apologise, but I only said what everyone thinks.

“Women with women, men with men. Everyone thinks so. Women are even better than men.

“If you want to nit-pick the fact that I expressed myself badly then do that as well. But this is my belief and I stand by it.

“The other day there was a game with 40,000 fans and some smart women, yet there was a male referee.

“That’s the real discrimination which women are faced with. And it’s clear discrimination on the part of FIGC bosses.

“When I saw a woman on the field, I lost it because it bothered me. I’ve sent her flowers. I apologise if she was offended, but I never said she did badly.

“I have nothing against her. But if you saw her with all those men, she was unwatchable, with her curves and ponytail on a football field. Are we for real?

“A chest to a chest, a breast to a breast… When players attack the referees and vice versa, how do you go about that?

“You should come and see where they undress, here in Cilento, with the dressing rooms as they are, the open doors…

“There aren’t even doors and the women who change have to go over to men who have towels wrapped around their lower abdomens.

“Are we for real? It’s disgusting. It’s ridiculous, but who are we kidding?”

It was then put to Vessicchio that female referees were fully covered…

“Yes, but their curves can still be seen,” he argued.

“They also don’t have the demeanour of a man. They don’t have their strength or presence.

“They’re out of place and unsightly in this respect. Therefore, I sent Moccia flowers and made her famous.”

Image credit CanaleCinqueTv

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