Zamparini's poor word choice

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MILAN, Italy -- The Italian football federation is investigating the president of the Palermo football club for comparing a player's agent to "Jewish lawyers."

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini made the comment during an interview with SportMediaset, but said it was meant to be a compliment, not anti-Semitic.

"Prosecutor Stefano Palazzi has opened up an investigation and we will send a letter to Zamparini requesting a hearing in the next few days," the federation said. "We will look into all the facts to understand them fully."

Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported on its website that Zamparini has said he will not turn up to the hearing.

"It's up to him if he turns up or not," the federation said. "We will send him a letter asking him to as we are trying to understand all the facts. But then it's his decision."

Zamparini made the comment about Javier Pastore's agent. Pastore moved from Palermo to Paris Saint-Germain in the off-season.

But Zamparini defended his comments.

"The word Jewish is for me synonymous with admiration for enterprising youngsters who look for work and get it intelligently," Zamparini said in a statement. "It was praise changed into an insult ... I've never been racist, my life proves it."