Italian Football Federation President (FIGC) Carlo Tavecchio has been sanctioned by UEFA following his controversial speech, at the Italian amateur leagues summer assembly last July, in which he referred to African players as “banana eaters”.

The comments came as Tavecchio suggested Italy should replicate other country’s stringent requirements for non-EU players and sparked outrage in Italy.

On 12 August, Tavecchio was elected the new President of the Italian Football Federation, replacing Giancarlo Abete following his resignation after Italy’s World Cup elimination.

UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body decided that the FIGC President will be ineligible for any position as a UEFA Official for a period of six months, starting now, and unable to participate in the next UEFA Congress scheduled for 24 March 2015.

Europe’s football governing body has also ruled that 71-year-old Tavecchio will have to organise an event in Italy aimed at increasing awareness and compliance with the principles of the UEFA Resolution entitled European Football United Against Racism.