England coach Fabio Capello angered some of his fellow Italians on Monday when he said ultra hardcore fans were ruining Serie A.
“The ultras do what they want. In the stadium they insult everyone,” Capello told reporters at an Italian sports seminar, adding that stadiums in Spain and England were more family friendly.
Italian Olympic Committee chief Gianni Petrucci was one of a number of Italian sports officials to hit back, saying: “It is absolutely not true. It is easy to talk from up high.”
Capello also sympathised with Italy coach Marcello Lippi, who has been heavily criticised in the media for overlooking in-form Sampdoria playmaker Antonio Cassano.
“I have (Michael) Owen, I also have a tormentor. Everyone has one,” Capello said.
The England coach did not select Owen during World Cup qualification and the Manchester United striker has a difficult task to make it into the squad for South Africa 2010.
