The president of the Italian Amateur Football Association (LND), Felice Belloli, has denied saying he wants to pull the plug on funding for "a bunch of lesbians" in women's football.
Belloli's incriminating phrase is included in the minutes of a meeting of the LND's women's football advisory panel back in March. Belloli, who in his role as president of the LND is responsible for the women's game in Italy, said: "That's enough, we can't go on always talking about giving money to this bunch of lesbians."
The state prosecutors are now investigating Belloli's remarks, although he said he will not resign, stating his conviction that his "innocence will be proven."
"I never signed those minutes," Belloli told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Can you see my signature on them? No, and I can tell you why -- because minutes can be taken and amended by anybody. I know how the minutes are taken at the LND.
"All I am saying is that I did not utter that phrase. There is going to be a lot to clarify, such as how minutes taken at an LND meeting can have been distributed to the press. This is my main concern because I want to find out how that document, which is private and confidential to the LND, came out."
Belloli became president of the LND following the election of previous incumbent Carlo Tavecchio as president of the Italian Football Association (FIGC). Both are regarded as close friends, together with Lazio and Salernitana president Claudio Lotito.
All three have been condemned for controversial remarks, starting from Tavecchio's racist "Opti Poba" phrase to his exclamation of surprise that women footballers "are not handicapped." Lotito said the promotions of Frosinone and Carpi to Serie A would ruin the Italian game, and now Belloli has angered the entire women's football movement with comments he claims have been manipulated.
"All I can say is that phrase is false," he added, ruling out any consequences to his own person or position. "I am absolutely not going to resign."
Former tennis star Martina Navratilova also commented on Belloli's remarks via Twitter.
Tavecchio told La Gazzetta on Friday that "if the phrase is true, it would be odious and unacceptable."
Patrizia Panico, Verona and Italy national team player, said "If the sentences are true Belloli, words are sexist, sexist, ignorant and we are ready to protest."
