Gianluigi Buffon discusses Italian football's problem with racism | OneFootball

Gianluigi Buffon believes Italian football must adopt a “zero tolerance” policy to racism.

Last week, Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was the victim of racist abuse when his side took on Inter at the San Siro.

The incident sparked a national debate about Italy’s problem with racism and now, one of the country’s national treasures has spoken intelligently on the subject.

“I have a kind of soft spot for all our faults,” former Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Buffon told Corriere della Sera.

“We are a beautiful people, although inconsistent, impulsive, and sometimes nonsensical.

“If a boat sinks in Lampedusa and 300 people die, we’re moved and even think about adopting the orphaned children.

“But if it doesn’t sink we complain about the arrival of 300 immigrants and ask what they’re here to do…

“The racism at San Siro? These are indecent things, and of course I’m not referring to Milanese people, but those who now have hatred rooted inside them and let it out when cheering in the stadium.

“There’s no need to demagogue, but we need zero tolerance or we’ll find ourselves surrounded by even worse people.

“Football probably has nothing to do with all this, it’s a much more serious and complex subject. There are seeds of hatred being sown everywhere, including in the stadiums.”

The 40-year-old is expected to retire when his Paris Saint-Germain contract expires at the end of the current season, and there has been some talk that he could decide to go into politics.

“Would I go into politics? I’ve learned never to say never,” he added.

“You have to be selfless inside, and I think I’ve always been that.

“I’d like to carve out a small space where I can be a tool for dreams or for help. But I still don’t know what that will be.”