Italian soccer federation bans official for anti-gay comment

ROME - The former president of Italy's amateur leagues has been banned from football for four months for an anti-gay attack on women's football.

At a league meeting in March, Felice Belloli said, ''Enough. You can't always talk about giving money to these four lesbians.'' While Belloli denied pronouncing the phrase, his words were documented in the official meeting notes and witnesses told the Italian football federation's prosecutor that they heard it. After being widely criticized for the outburst, Belloli was removed from office in May after refusing calls to resign.

In sentencing Belloli, the federation notes in its decision that he violated ''principals of loyalty, fairness and morality.''