FIFA has asked the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to investigate comments made by Carlo Tavecchio, the favorite to become its next president, in which he alluded to African players as "banana eaters".

"Media reports concerning alleged racist comments by one of the presidential candidates for the Italian FA have alerted FIFA's task force against racism and discrimination and its chairman Jeffrey Webb," FIFA said in a statement on Monday.

"As such, FIFA has written a letter to the Italian FA asking it to take the appropriate steps to investigate and decide on this matter and report to FIFA."