Federation President Giancarlo Abete puts the brakes on Amauri playing for the Azzurri and tries to ban the phrase ‘Oriundi.’
The Juventus striker’s application for citizenship has been held up by red tape and a new law meaning, rather than this month, he will only be able to take on an Italian passport from March 2010.
“Italy will conclude the World Cup qualifying campaign with the current squad. Amauri’s citizenship will certainly arrive after the final games,” said the FIGC President.
“It will be the Ministry of the Interior that tells us when the player will receive Italian citizenship, but at the very least it will be October 31 before we get an answer.
“Then Marcello Lippi can make his choices. Naturally the Federation has the utmost appreciation for the Brazilian as a player and as a person.”
Amauri would join Mauro Camoranesi in becoming an Oriundo, a foreign player who has taken Italian citizenship to play for the Azzurri.
“This term no longer has any sense,” complained Abete. “If they are Italian citizens then they can only play for Italy.
“If they have double citizenship then they must make a choice, then once it is made they are to all intents and purposes given the same rights and opportunities as the other Italians.”
Meanwhile, the Federation is pushing its candidacy to host the 2016 European Championships after missing out to Ukraine and Poland for 2012.
“We are concentrating on the dossier to present to UEFA. We are working intensely to host the 2016 games, but it is still too early to say we are optimistic.”
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