Filipe Bazzi, who has been reporting on the national side for Football Italy, has been denied entry to the NRL for an interview with the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) due to his lack of a professional football experience.
Bazzini was invited to an interview by the NZRFU with the news outlet Sport, and was to speak to an executive about his involvement in the project, but was turned away.
Bizzi told Sport he was disappointed, and has written to NZRFUs CEO Greg Clark and other senior management about his experience in the country.
“I had my passport but it’s been confiscated by the police because I’m not a professional journalist,” Bizziso said.
“In the past, I have worked for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, ABC News, The New York Post, NBC, ABC Radio New Zealand, The Wall Street Journal, CBS and many other media outlets.”
I was the subject of a fake police investigation and a fake investigation in Spain and a few other places, and now I am unable to get a passport.
“They said ‘if you do this, you’re not going to get the interview with me’, and I’m still here because I didn’t do anything wrong. “
It’s an intimidating environment for me to be working in,” Bazzeso said, adding that he felt intimidated.
“The NZRFUS are doing this in the name of protecting their reputation, and in the face of a real danger.” “
Bizzini was also told that his visa had expired, but that the NZRFU were continuing to process his application. “
The NZRFUS are doing this in the name of protecting their reputation, and in the face of a real danger.”
Bizzini was also told that his visa had expired, but that the NZRFU were continuing to process his application.
“What they’re doing is in the interest of protecting the organisation,” Bzziso explained.
It’s an intimidation situation for me.” “
I was scared of what the reaction would be, and I didn.
It’s an intimidation situation for me.”
NZRU chief executive officer Greg Clark has previously said that the organisation would take action against Bazzili if he did not attend the interview.
“We will take action where it is appropriate, and where we believe it is in everyone’s best interests,” Clark told Stuff in March.
“There are strict procedures and we take action if it is deemed to be in the public interest.”
