ROME - Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini is being investigated by the Italian Soccer Federation after saying club doctors keep injured players sidelined for too long.
"The federal prosecutor has opened an investigation into Inter coach Roberto Mancini over comments he made about the work of the club doctors," the FIGC said on its Web site (www.figc.it) on Monday.
Italian media said Mancini was angry with Inter's medics about the time it is taking France captain Patrick Vieira, who has hardly featured this season, to recover from a calf strain.
"Apart from certain very serious injuries, I think normal injuries can be healed much more quickly. I have experienced them in first person (as a player)," Mancini told Sky television after the Italian champions beat Atalanta 2-1 on Saturday.
"The players have more trouble returning than before, but it's not their fault. Now the doctors stop them all the time. The doctors have got worse, in my opinion".
The comments sparked the wrath of Italy's sports doctors.
