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Roma fined €50,000 over racial abuse aimed at Milan players Roma fined €50,000 over racial abuse aimed at Milan players
(4 months later)
Roma have been fined €50,000 (£42,200) by the Lega Calcio after a section of supporters racially abused three Milan players during Sunday night's Serie A game at San Siro.Roma have been fined €50,000 (£42,200) by the Lega Calcio after a section of supporters racially abused three Milan players during Sunday night's Serie A game at San Siro.
The match, which finished goalless, was suspended for two minutes shortly after half-time by the referee Gianluca Rocchi, allowing the stadium announcer to order offenders to desist before play was allowed to resume.The match, which finished goalless, was suspended for two minutes shortly after half-time by the referee Gianluca Rocchi, allowing the stadium announcer to order offenders to desist before play was allowed to resume.
Although the Lega did not specify which three players it believed had been targeted by Roma fans, the striker Mario Balotelli was seen raising his finger to his lips in a bid to silence visiting fans. The Roma captain, Francesco Totti, then approached the away end at San Siro during the suspension to reason with offending Giallorossi supporters.Although the Lega did not specify which three players it believed had been targeted by Roma fans, the striker Mario Balotelli was seen raising his finger to his lips in a bid to silence visiting fans. The Roma captain, Francesco Totti, then approached the away end at San Siro during the suspension to reason with offending Giallorossi supporters.
A statement published on legaserie.it said: "A fine of €50,000 with a warning for Roma, whose supporters continuously addressed racially discriminatory chants to three players of the opposing team, prompting the referee to suspend the game for two minutes in order to make them desist from such reprehensible behaviour."A statement published on legaserie.it said: "A fine of €50,000 with a warning for Roma, whose supporters continuously addressed racially discriminatory chants to three players of the opposing team, prompting the referee to suspend the game for two minutes in order to make them desist from such reprehensible behaviour."
The warning attached to Roma's financial punishment could lead to the club playing future league matches behind closed doors should the events of Sunday night be repeated.The warning attached to Roma's financial punishment could lead to the club playing future league matches behind closed doors should the events of Sunday night be repeated.
Roma's management responded quickly to the fine through the club's official website. A statement said: "AS Roma condemns any form of racial abuse. This type of behaviour from any football supporters, including ours, is completely unacceptable. We are committed to facing this issue head-on to rid our sport of this problem and to promote respect for all."Roma's management responded quickly to the fine through the club's official website. A statement said: "AS Roma condemns any form of racial abuse. This type of behaviour from any football supporters, including ours, is completely unacceptable. We are committed to facing this issue head-on to rid our sport of this problem and to promote respect for all."
Earlier on Monday, the president of the Italian Football Federation pledged to push through legislation to help identify and exclude individuals found guilty of racist behaviour in Italian stadiums. Giancarlo Abete joined the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, in condemning what the Swiss called "appalling" behaviour and, after claiming club fines are not working, he proposed more stringent sanctions for repeat offenders.Earlier on Monday, the president of the Italian Football Federation pledged to push through legislation to help identify and exclude individuals found guilty of racist behaviour in Italian stadiums. Giancarlo Abete joined the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, in condemning what the Swiss called "appalling" behaviour and, after claiming club fines are not working, he proposed more stringent sanctions for repeat offenders.
Abete said: "They [fines] are becoming a solution that does not solve the problem, because certain people don't care that their clubs are being fined €10,000 or €20,000. In addition, this kind of fine does not act as a punitive sanction. We need to prevent certain people from gaining access to the stadium.Abete said: "They [fines] are becoming a solution that does not solve the problem, because certain people don't care that their clubs are being fined €10,000 or €20,000. In addition, this kind of fine does not act as a punitive sanction. We need to prevent certain people from gaining access to the stadium.
"If names are registered to tickets, these people will be prevented from accessing other parts of the stadium. This is a strong signal of our intent and after that would follow the entire closure of a stadium. This idea will be presented to Uefa's executive committee on 24 May, where the main theme will be racism and I imagine that it will be endorsed as it falls in line with the committee's plans.""If names are registered to tickets, these people will be prevented from accessing other parts of the stadium. This is a strong signal of our intent and after that would follow the entire closure of a stadium. This idea will be presented to Uefa's executive committee on 24 May, where the main theme will be racism and I imagine that it will be endorsed as it falls in line with the committee's plans."
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