In the hallowed Sala delle Fiaccole, a room steeped in history within Italy`s Olympic Committee (CONI) headquarters, Franco Carraro, an octogenarian titan of Italian sport, recently offered an unfiltered retrospective on a career that spans decades of triumphs, controversies, and quiet influence. His reflections paint a vivid picture of a man who navigated the turbulent waters of Italian politics and football, often with a blend of steely resolve and self-effacing wit.
The Moscow Boycott: A Stand on Principle
Carraro`s journey began with a bang, or rather, a defiant stand. In 1980, as CONI President, he faced immense pressure from the Italian government, led by Prime Minister Bettino Craxi – himself influenced by German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt – to boycott the Moscow Olympics. The US-led boycott aimed to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, but Carraro saw hypocrisy in punishing only athletes while other economic ties, such as Italy`s car production in “Togliattigrad,” remained untouched.
“The government had invited us not to go,” Carraro recounted, “if I had consented without asserting the autonomy of sport, I would have had to resign that very day. Anyone else, I believe, would have behaved as I did.”
His decision led to a year and a half of silence from his friend Craxi, but Italy`s athletes, free to compete, returned with a remarkable 8 gold medals. Carraro also revealed the domestic political tightrope he walked, convincing Interior Minister Rognoni to retain military sports groups, arguing that medals would bring public support for the police during a period of intense terrorism, a time when “police, the tricolor, and nationalism were not well-regarded by all.”
Weaving Sport into the Fabric of a Nation
Beyond specific events, Carraro observed the profound role sport played in uniting post-war Italy. He highlighted how President Sandro Pertini`s passionate celebrations at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, seen globally, brought Italians together. Later, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi made it his mission to teach the country to sing its national anthem. When Carraro became FIGC (Italian Football Federation) President in 2001, he echoed Ciampi`s sentiment, urging players to sing the anthem. “You journalists spent months investigating who would do it, as if I had asked for some extravagance…” he mused, a touch of irony in his voice.
Calciopoli: A “Political Error” and Lingering Bitterness
No discussion of modern Italian football is complete without Calciopoli, the 2006 scandal that rocked Serie A. Carraro, though acquitted of all charges, admitted the period caused him deep pain, doubting his honesty. He views his resignation as FIGC president as necessary to ensure the next season could start without embarrassment. However, he pinpoints a “great political error” from 2004:
“I thought that Bergamo and Pairetto could no longer be referee designators… not because they had done badly, but because certain positions, for me, need to be changed sometimes.”
He offered the role to Pierluigi Collina, who declined. Carraro did nothing further. Years later, he discovered through a TV documentary that Collina`s refusal indirectly led Bergamo and Pairetto to seek alliances, ultimately with Luciano Moggi of Juventus, a central figure in the scandal. His justification for this oversight? The immediate crises of Italy`s Euro 2004 elimination and Napoli`s imminent financial collapse, which even prompted President Ciampi to seek explanations.
On the ultimate penalties, Carraro`s stance remains firm: “It was right to take two Scudetti (league titles) from Juve because their executives had made mistakes, but the one given to Inter for 2006 should not have been reassigned. Both should have remained unassigned, as per the tradition of the Football Federation.”
Behind the Scenes: World Cups and a Secret Vialli Approach
Carraro also offered candid takes on Italy`s World Cup campaigns. The ill-fated 2002 tournament in Korea and Japan was “all wrong” – from coach Giovanni Trapattoni`s suitability for knockout football to an overly isolated training camp. He even took personal blame as FIGC president for the team`s performance, acknowledging the controversial referee Byron Moreno was “homely” (biased) amidst reports of widespread corruption. Still, he pointed out, “If Vieri had scored the winning goal a minute from the end, we wouldn`t even remember the referee`s name.”
The triumphant 2006 World Cup, won just as Calciopoli unfolded, was not, in his view, won “despite” FIFA President Sepp Blatter`s supposed animosity. Instead, he credits sound sports policy, including his strategic placement of Bergamo and Pairetto (yes, those same individuals, albeit in different capacities) on UEFA and FIFA arbitration committees. “There`s a proverb that says, `Help yourself, and God helps you`,” he noted, with a knowing wink of irony.
Perhaps the most intriguing revelation concerned the late Gianluca Vialli. In October 2002, following the disastrous World Cup and a poor start to European Championship qualifiers, Carraro, prompted by Juventus CEO Giraudo, secretly met Vialli in Turin to offer him the national team coaching job. “Unfortunately, the conditions were not right,” Carraro stated. “No one ever knew about it; he was a true man.”
A Milanista`s Musings and CONI`s Future
A lifelong AC Milan supporter, Carraro offered his thoughts on the club, praising coach Stefano Pioli and Lazio`s sporting director Igli Tare, but reserved special warmth for Adriano Galliani: “Personally, I would be very happy if Galliani also returned… for the fans, it would be an extraordinary surge of enthusiasm.”
His recent, seemingly unlikely, candidacy for CONI presidency was also unveiled as a strategic maneuver. Alongside other influential figures like Pescante, Petrucci, and Gravina, Carraro`s bid was designed to ensure administrative continuity within the Olympic body and protect key personnel. “I always knew what the end of my candidacy would be, but I couldn`t tell anyone,” he explained, showcasing the discreet political chess he still plays.
The “Poltronissimo” Persona: A Life of Service
Carraro embraced his enduring nickname, “Poltronissimo” – the man of many chairs, or big chair. “No, no, I`m perfectly aware… I was precocious, president of the water ski federation at 22, president of Milan at 27. I occupied many spaces, but I always tried to do my best,” he affirmed. His self-deprecating humor shone through as he admitted, “Now I`m 85, and I understand why people exclaim when they hear my name: `Is that guy still alive?`”
From defying governments to navigating corruption scandals, and from shaping national identity through sport to quietly influencing its future, Franco Carraro`s career is a testament to longevity, principle, and the often-complex realities of sports governance. His unvarnished reflections offer a rare glimpse into the mind of a man who has not merely observed Italian sports history, but has profoundly shaped it.
