Marco Materazzi apologizes for his trip to Russia
The former Italy defender admitted that his visit to Russia was an ill-considered action.
Фото: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Автор: Steindy ( talk ) 23:54, 28 November 2009 (UTC)
Former Italy national team defender Marco Materazzi has addressed the backlash following his recent trip to Russia, where he attended a domestic Super Cup event. The Italian clarified that he was in the country for only half a day and participated strictly in a football event for children.
Materazzi acknowledged that he failed to consider the implications of his presence and recognized the pain he caused to many, particularly those in Ukraine who are living through the daily risks of war. He stated that he does not seek to hide behind excuses.
I realized that I let many people down, especially in Ukraine, who risk their lives every day. My main goal has always been to bring joy to children around the world through football. I want to state clearly, with all my heart, that I am against any war and propaganda. Marco Materazzi