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| Abete would welcome Amauri |
Monday 12 January, 2009 |
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The President of the Italian FA, Giancarlo Abete, would have no problem with Amauri playing for the Azzurri if he receives an Italian passport.
The Juventus striker of Brazilian descent has applied for Italian citizenship on the grounds that his wife Cynthia Cosini Valaderes is Italian.
However, Rome based daily Il Messagero last week reported that Cynthia has so far been unable to prove she has been an Italian resident for 10 years.
“Firstly the wife has to clarify her position as an Italian citizen,” said Abete. “Then it’s up to the player [whether he plays for Italy or Brazil].
“Anyway, only players who have a strong desire to wear the Azzurri jersey should be selected for La Nazionale.”
The 28-year-old has been exceptional for Juventus this season, scoring 11 goals in 17 starts since joining from Palermo last summer.
Amauri’s home country, Brazil, has so far ignored him although a friendly between Italy and the Selecao in London next month could prompt Carlos Dunga to award him a controversial first cap.
Abete then turned to the recent verdicts of the GEA trial, which sentenced Luciano and Alessandro Moggi to suspended jail terms.
“It would be an error to link two different orders of law like ordinary justice and that of sport,” said Abete, answering criticism regarding the sentencing.
Many Italians have questioned the point of trying someone under the laws of sporting justice, which can only ban individuals from sports and not sentence them to prison.
Luciano Moggi will be back in court later this month when the Calciopoli trial reopens in Napoli and Abete will reserve making further comments on the matter until after that.
“I believe that we need to wait for definitive judgements before making any other evaluations. We have great trust in the organs of justice, but we have to maintain the autonomy of sporting justice.”
Abete went on to discuss the poor condition of many of Italy’s pitches, which have been iced over, leading some to question the length and timing of the winter break.
“It was a traditional break. It’s not easy to identify the right moment to stop. Next year the break will be even shorter because of the World Cup.”
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