Romanian gymnastics great Nadia Comaneci has sprung to the defence of compatriot Ilie Nastase over his sexist tirades which marred Great Britain's Fed Cup defeat in Constanta
Nadia Comaneci, Ilie Nastase
Nadia Comaneci
London: Romanian gymnastics great Nadia Comaneci has sprung to the defence of compatriot Ilie Nastase over his sexist tirades which marred Great Britain's Fed Cup defeat in Constanta.
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'Ilie, a patriotic man'
In Cluj for the European Gymnastics Championships, Comaneci told Press Association Sport: "Ilie is very patriotic and sometimes he says things that he doesn't really mean — it's just Ilie, and he will always be my friend.
Ilie Nastase
"Ilie is responsible for what comes out of his mouth, and I think it is important in sport that you keep the respect and good behaviour. He will have to deal with the consequences, but he can survive whatever happens. People make mistakes. Romania loves Ilie because he is Ilie."
Banned from Wimbledon
Meanwhile, Ilie is set to be banned from Wimbledon's Royal Box.
The All England Club has stopped short of black-listing Nastase but it is inconceivable he would be welcomed back to SW19 after his rant which saw him thrown out of the arena where the Fed
Cup tie was taking place and has earned him a provisional suspension from the International Tennis Federation.
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