Patrick Vieira has condemned Carlo Tavecchio’s election as the president of the Italian football federation.

Seventy-one-year-old Tavecchio was put in office on Monday, winning 63.63 per cent of votes cast in the hunt for Giancarlo Abete’s replacement.

His name has been marred by allegations of racism, though, relating to supposed comments made about African players eating bananas.

Tavecchio has denied any wrongdoing but Vieira thinks his election sends out the wrong message.

Writing on Twitter he said: “I’m finding it really hard to believe that Carlo Tavecchio has been elected as president of the Italian FA after the comments that he made.

“For me, that shows how far away the Italian football authorities are from dealing with discrimination.”

The Manchester City director of elite development added: “If he was an Englishman making this kind of comment, politically, he would be completely out.”

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