Soccer-Italy federation chief to face UEFA investigation

ZURICH, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Italian soccer federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio is to face a disciplinary investigation by European soccer's governing body over allegedly racist remarks made during his election campaign, UEFA said on Wednesday. Tavecchio, who was elected FIGC president last week, made a speech in the run-up to the election in which he referred to a fictitious player he called Opti Poba who, he said, "previously ate bananas and then suddenly becomes a first team player with Lazio." (Writing by Brian Homewood; editing by Ken Ferris)