Juve hit by stadium ban after racist abuse

everdead.ie

Juventus have been ordered to play behind closed doors for one match after Balotelli was abused by Juve fans Also there are reports of Sulley Muntari moving to spurs because of the level of abuse from some Italian fans.



Juventus have been ordered to play a home game behind closed doors by the Italian league.
The Turin-based outfit have been punished after sections of their supporters racially abused visiting striker Mario Balotelli during Saturday's 1-1 Serie A draw with Inter Milan at the Stadio Olimpico.
The league's disciplinary body found on Monday that the abuse happened on numerous occasions during the game and could not be excused as sporting passion.
"The sporting judge considered that in the course of the game and on multiple occasions, fans of the home team, in various sections of the stadium, sang songs which included racial discrimination," read a statement.
"Juventus are therefore obliged to play one game behind closed doors."
Clamp down

Racist abuse is not uncommon in the Italian game and small fines are usually handed out, but the seriousness of Saturday's incidents has prompted the authorities to take a firmer stance.
The statement, in conjunction with the Italian football federation, added that the abuse was deplorable.
Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli had earlier condemned the chants towards Balotelli, an Under-21 international for Italy.
Inter president Massimo Moratti has also spoken out against the abuse, claiming the majority of Juve fans were responsible.
"What I find terrible is that these chants were sung by at least four-fifths of the stadium," he told the Corriere della Sera.
"Had I been at the stadium, at a certain point I would have left my seat in the stands, I would have gone down on the field and pulled out the team. There must be a limit."
Born in Palermo to Ghanaian immigrants, Balotelli was brought up by an Italian family whose surname he now uses.


http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11854_5214990,00.html

Insect Overlord

Great to see some stricter punishments against racism, but it still doesn't go far enough.

Handsome Bob

One game behind closed doors isn't enough, that's not going to make racists who come to these games think twice about what they are saying. Playing one game behind closed doors is as good as fining Spanish teams a measley £30,000+. It will hit Juventus in the pocket, but will do jack all to the actual fans.

delta_bravo

everdead.ie wrote: »

Also there are reports of Sulley Muntari moving to spurs because of the level of abuse from some Italian fans.

Poor Muntari, no one wants to go to Spurs

Gavin "shels"

Shels were involved in the first stadium ban issued by UEFA. Little useless fact.;)

http://www.rte.ie/sport/2005/0910/steaua.html



Good to see some punishment but it needs more, but as LZ5by5 said a few grand fines for Spainish teams, etc... is useless, the clubs are rolling in it. Clubs need to be hit harder in order to restrict and ban certain fans, etc... to matches.

Bubs101

Anything else would have been very harsh on Juve. It happens everywhere in italy and making another harsh penalty punishment on juve would be very bad form

Insect Overlord

Uefa plans new racism crackdown
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8010605.stm

Uefa president Michel Platini has revealed plans to stop play or abandon matches if fans make racist chants.

"We will call for play to be stopped for 10 minutes when these things happen, and for announcements to be made in the stadium," Platini said.

"If it continues, then the match will be stopped."

Platini's comments come after Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli was racially abused by Juventus fans in the sides' 1-1 league draw on Saturday.

The Italian League has ordered Juventus to play their next home league game - against Lecce on 3 May - behind closed doors.

"It is a difficult moment for the Italian soccer federation. It has taken its responsibility," added former Juventus player Platini.

Italian federation president Giancarlo Abete, who hopes to bring Euro 2016 to the country, told reporters that rules would be changed to allow games to be stopped because of racist chanting.

"The Italian system already gives the authorities the power to suspend the game in the case of banners that incite racial discrimination," he said.

"We'll reinforce this, naturally while staying attentive and finding a balance for the security requirements of the public."

Balotelli, 18, scored Inter's opener in the top-of-the-table clash and was subjected to chants from sections of the crowd in Turin.

The Italy under-21 international was born in Palermo but is of Ghanaian descent.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8010605.stm