Cesare Prandelli has said Italy will not quit the Confederations Cup due to the huge protests that have swept the country.
An estimated 1.25 million people took to the streets in scores of cities on Thursday evening to call for better public services and to criticise the cost of organising the Confederations Cup and next year’s World Cup.
Many of the protest marches, which began last week, have culminated in violent clashes between demonstrators and riot police, but Prandelli said the Italy squad had no plans to leave the country.
“Our officials have absolutely not proposed going home,” he said during a press conference in Salvador, the day before Italy’s final Group A game against hosts Brazil.
