Serie D side Grosseto have axed youth coach Tommaso Casalini for a startling Facebook post where he suggested Greta Thunberg could "take a pounding."
The 16-year-old Swedish activist has shot to prominence for her campaign on climate change and has received international recognition for her work.
But Casalini, who was the assistant coach of Grosseto's Giovanissimi A side, made a vile post on social media by calling Thunberg a "w***e."
He added: "A 16-year-old can take a pounding, she's at the right age."
According to Football Italia, Grosseto announced the sacking of Casalini by saying that he was "not acting in line with the club, who focus on moral values even more than technical values."
Casalini has since come out to apologise for the Facebook post that he made last week.
"I'd like to publicly apologise to everyone, starting with Greta Thunberg, for the post I wrote on Facebook last week," he said.
"It was an outburst written in a moment of anger against the young Swedish activist with absolutely the wrong language and content I regret.
"I never thought or could never have really thought about certain things, especially a minor.
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"However, when you make a mistake then it's only right that you take responsibility for your mistakes.
"Therefore, I willingly accept Grosseto's decision to remove me from my role as assistant coach of the Giovanissimi A, and I apologise to the club for the obvious embarrassment caused by my gesture."
Thunberg delivered a powerful speech at the UN last week and insisted that world leaders are "failing" young people.
She said: "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.
"The eyes of all future generations are upon you.
"And if you choose to fail us, I say we will never forgive you.
"We will not let you get away with this.
"Right here, right now is where we draw the line."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Football News, Football, Italy