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Claudio Ranieri has always struck me as a daft individual. The Fleet Street press memorably labelled him “The Tinkerman” because of his penchant for needlessly rotating his squad during his days as Chelsea coach. But maybe something like “The Lunatic” is a more appropriate handle.
Surely there’s a few bats loose in the belfry when it comes to Ranieri.
How else can one comprehend his inexplicable remarks to Rai TV after Lazio beat Juventus in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday night?
“I did not like the entire direction of the match. I found the official was tough with us, on the field it seemed as if he was Chinese, as it was always yellow cards with us,” complained Ranieri.
The remark went largely unnoticed in Italy – the Italian press are probably used to the tottering Juventus coach putting his foot in his mouth – but in China, his ill-advised statement has caused a furore.
And rightly so.
What on earth was Ranieri trying to say? Several theories have been proffered, from Ranieri making a statement about corruption in Chinese football, to the supposedly card-happy nature of Chinese referees.
But a sceptic – and I’m one of them – might suggest that Ranieri was linking the colour of the cards dished out by referee Paolo Tagliavento to the perceived colour of Chinese skin.
What makes Ranieri’s remark all the more incredible is the fact that next season’s Italian Super Cup match will be played in Beijing.
If Juventus do go on to win the Coppa Italia, Ranieri has single-handedly managed to put his team offside with just about every Chinese ticket-holder that piles through the gates.
And this in an age where European clubs froth at the prospect of parting Asian fans from their hard-earned cash.
The problem with Ranieri’s remark is not that it was made by a dim-witted fool, but rather that it’s tacitly accepted by the Italian football community.
Why wouldn’t it be? Just this week Roma fans were fined for directing racist chants towards Inter striker Mario Balotelli – and Balotelli is an Italian U-21 international!
Former Arsenal star Patrick Vieira has complained bitterly about racism in Serie A.
“Being a black player in Italy is difficult compared to other countries because you always receive abuse,” said Vieira in December last year. “I have been in Italy for four years and fans have always given me trouble.”
In an infamous case in 2005, ex-Messina defender Marco Zoro walked from the pitch with ball in hand after receiving incessant racist abuse from travelling Inter fans.
And the problem is not just confined to Italy.
In 2004, Spanish coach Luis Aragonés appeared unperturbed when he was caught on camera referring to Thierry Henry as a “black shit.”
Bemused by the subsequent outcry, Aragonés went on to win Euro 2008 with his native Spain.
At the U-21 European Championships in 2007, England’s Justin Hoyte and Nedum Onuoha were not only racially abused by Serbian fans, but allegedly by Serbian players as well.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the former Yugoslav republics and much of eastern Europe remain hotbeds of xenophobia.
It would be interesting to note what Dinamo Moscow midfielder Luke Wilkshire makes of the trip across town to face Spartak.
Fans at the Luzhniki Stadium routinely unfurl racist banners directed at their own players.
Eastern European expert Johnathan Wilson has argued that racism involving eastern European teams often prompts unhelpful sanctimony from those in the west.
Certainly socio-economic factors should be taken into account when it comes to the complex issue of racism in sport.
But Claudio Ranieri has no excuse.
He’s a well-paid, well-travelled individual in charge of a cosmopolitan group of young men.
He should know better than to make racially-based remarks – no matter how flippant or innocent their intention.
It’s ironic that just a night after Ranieri was making his harebrained comment, UEFA was launching yet another anti-racist initiative.
While the suggestion has been made that Serie A games be halted in the case of racist chanting, there’s no word yet on what the governing body will do the next time Claudio Ranieri decides to open his mouth.