Italy's coach Marcello Lippi waits for the start of his team's Confederations Cup soccer match against Egypt at Ellis Park in Johannesburg June 18, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Italian national soccer's head coach Marcello Lippi said he would not select homosexual players for his team, according to news reports on Thursday.

    Lippi told the web-TV program Klaus-Condicio that the situation would create conflict in Italy, as players and matches are dissected to a nearly obsessive extent in the country.

    The veteran coach, who led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, insisted that choice was not due to homophobia but due to the requirements of team morale.

    "This is not a question of culture but is more related to the fact that such a relation would create conflicts contrary to the interests of the dynamics of the group," Lippi said.

    Lippi's remarks came amid a wave of anti-gay violence in Rome, including a violent attack against a gay couple that has prompted new calls for an anti-discrimination law to better protect the rights of homosexuals.

    Gay rights group Arcigay said such comments only increase prejudice against homosexuals and are particularly damaging coming from someone such as Lippi, who is held in such high esteem by the young.

    (Agencies)