article_snippet: The Italian campaign is being headed by former British athlete Fiona May, the English-born former Olympic long-jumper who chose to represent Italy after marrying an Italian, and Fiona admits Fiona has a tough challenge.
article_snippet: former British athlete
article_snippet: Fiona May was appointed by the Italian FA's controversial president Carlo Tavecchio, the 71-year-old who was banned from all football activities for six months in November after referring to 'eating bananas' when discussing foreign players.
article_snippet: Fiona May (centre, pictured in Turin) has been tasked with improving race relations within Italian football .
article_snippet: May admits Fiona had to think long and hard before taking on the 'daunting' task of heading the Italian FA's anti-racism committee in September last year, but has taken heart from the response to the recent launch of a 20-month campaign.
article_snippet: Fiona said: 'I didn't accept it straight away - it was a pretty daunting task, but I do like a challenge and felt a challenge was important to show a bit of courage. '
article_snippet: May's campaign is called 'Racists?
article_snippet: The first involved more than 2,000 young people in Florence, May's adopted home city.
article_snippet: and it didn't exactly help our cause,' she added.
article_snippet: May, who was raised in Derby and is still a keen Rams fan, admits all those efforts will seem a waste of time if England players are on the receiving end of racist abuse from Italian fans on Tuesday.
article_snippet: She said: 'I can't say it's not going to happen, but I really hope not - and we know FIFA and UEFA are now watching these matches very, very closely.'
article_snippet: May, 45, who has become a well-known actress after retiring from competition, also hopes Italy will learn from Britain that part of the key to eradicating racist abuse is through legislation - Italian anti-racism laws are nowhere near as tough as legislation - Italian anti-racism laws are in the UK. '
highlights_snippet: The Italian campaign is being headed by former British athlete Fiona May .
  