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Capello ‘shameful’ over Russia unpaid salary row

The former deputy to Russian coach Fabio Capello has slammed the Italian for failing to defend his staff who left when they were not paid.

Capello 'shameful' over Russia unpaid salary row
Russia's coach Fabio Capello has not been paid for five months. Photo: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP

Former Italian international Christian Panucci said Capello had acted in a "shameful way" by not defending him.

Panucci and physical trainer Massimo Neri left their posts with the Russian squad when they were not paid. The Russian Football Federation said this month that Capello, who is reported to have a €7 million annual salary, has not been paid for five months.

Capello "acted in a shameful way with me and with all the Italian staff," Panucci told Gazzeta dello Sport on Tuesday.

"I will tell him face-to-face the next time I see him," Panucci added. "A great coach should defend his staff and he did not do it."

Panucci thanked Capello for the chance to work with the Russian team, who crashed out of this year's World Cup in the first round.

Panucci said the Russian federation had failed to keep promises to renew his contract. "I was working without a contract and then I said to myself 'that's enough!'"

The federation said this month that it could no longer afford the salary of Capello, who has been national coach of the 2018 World Cup hosts since 2012.

Capello last week refused to comment on speculation about his future with Russia.

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

https://twitter.com/GravesenFumado/status/1764242481984491822

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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