Cannavaro Says Uzbekistan Team Had an Internal 'Mole'

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan national football team head coach Fabio Cannavaro said there was a person within the national team who was spreading false information about the coaching staff.

Speaking at a press conference, the Italian coach said a large amount of inaccurate information had circulated about the team, which he believes was the result of leaks from inside the squad.

"Someone was spreading far too much false information. Perhaps because I am a foreign coach. The rules we followed were not my invention — they are European standards. I still do not understand why so much inaccurate information was being circulated," Cannavaro said.

The head coach also stressed that he respects his predecessor, Timur Kapadze, and described the constant criticism directed at him as unjustified.

"The previous head coach is an excellent local specialist who achieved good results. But that should not be a reason for constant criticism of me. I felt it was necessary to clarify this issue," he said.

According to Cannavaro, the large amount of false information may have been the result of someone within the national team.

"I think there was so much false information because the national team had its own 'mole' inside," the head coach said.