Italy's coach Antonio Conte gets death threats over Marchisio injury
Rome, March 29 (IANS) The president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Carlo Tavecchio has revealed Italy's national coach Antonio Conte has received death threats following an injury to his Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio.
Conte received the threats from angry Juventus fans who blame the coach's training methods for the injury that was initially believed to have sidelined the midfielder for the rest of the season.
"He received death threats on the internet," Tavecchio was quoted as saying by bbc.com on Saturday. "I saw Conte shaken this morning, I met with him for a long time and he is not calm."
"All these things have been said on social networks and he feels vilified for something that is not his fault. The FIGC stands by him," added Tavecchio.
Marchisio was suspected of having ruptured his knee ligaments as he was training for Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifier against Bulgaria on Saturday which Italy drew 2-2. However, Juventus have since confirmed the 29-year-old has not torn his ligament.
"Some things obviously hurt, all I ask is that I'm allowed to work in peace," Conte said following the match. "I just want to work and do my job better to get the better results I want. I do not want to talk about it and I will remain silent."