Serie A - Juve given stadium ban

Eurosport - Mon, 20 Apr 15:57:00 2009

Juventus will have to play a home game behind closed doors after fans racially abused Internazionale striker Mario Balotelli in Saturday's 1-1 Serie A draw.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Serie A Internazionale Mario Balotelli celebrates with Inter fans - 0

A statement from the league's disciplinary body said the abuse was deplorable and happened on numerous occasions during the game.

Balotelli, an Italy U21 international, was born to Ghanaian immigrant parents but was brought up by an Italian family, whose surname he goes by - his real parents' surname is Barwuah.

The striker is an at times controversial figure who angered home fans at the Stadio Olimpico throughout the game, particularly for his role in the sending off of Juve midfielder Tiago.

Balotelli (pictured, celebrating his earlier goal with Inter fans) was playing keep ball on the touchline with Sulley Muntari when Tiago let his frustrations get the better of him and kicked both of them, earning a straight red card.

Balotelli, who fell down from Tiago's swipe, earned the wrath of a small section of the home fans.

But Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli condemned the chants.

"On behalf of Juventus and the great majority of our fans I want to strongly condemn the racist chanting against Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli," he said.

"There are no excuses or justification for this type of behaviour. Football fans can get het up but episodes such as this are inexcusable.

"Together we must all try to promote a sporting culture that puts respect for the adversary at its core and fights against racism."

Italian police are studying video evidence of the racist chanting to try to identify those responsible.

Marcello Nicchi, president of the Italian Referee's Association said the chants were very serious.

"There are 16,000 matches played in Italy every weekend, we have to send out the right signals and educate the people," he said.

"The racist chants directed at Balotelli are very serious, UEFA and FIFA are always talking about eliminating them. Referees don't have the power to stop a match but they can report on the events to the right authorities."

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said that Balotelli's character made him a target.

"I promise that I'm against racist chanting but there are two aspects to consider here," he said.

"One good: Balotelli is young, he has a lot of room for improvement in his behaviour in the future.

"And one bad: with this character he knows how to be respected but he risks compromising moments of a career that promises great things because he has all he needs to be great.

"But I have to say that he's a good kid, before and after the match he was joking with everyone."

Brazil coach Dunga said football was a goldfish bowl that exaggerates the problem of racism.

"Racism is a terrible thing but you feel it more in football because there are players from all over the world. The fans want to let off steam but they do it in the wrong way," he said.

"Football needs to take tangible steps to combat racism."

Reuters / AFP

Comment 6 - 25 of 25

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  1. the only ppl that are racist here are d ppl that issued­ the ban. There was Viera and Muntari out there playing­ why not them then?? because Balotelli is a @#$% they­ were sweraing because he is an arragont piece of $hit­ not because he's black. So i guess the league­ diciplinary board are the racists here.

    From lanzon_j, on Wed 22 Apr 8:06AM

  2. oh i didn't know michael a was an ambassador of­ Juventus thanks because you hold such an important role­ at juve right?

    From alex, on Tue 21 Apr 11:18PM

  3. in italy they have mafia
    that's why they dont scare­ in their own place

    england is also the same as­ italy
    they have hooligans there

    the point is, all the­ league is the same

    From chip l, on Tue 21 Apr 6:04AM

  4. i'm a juve fan and behalf of all the juve fans all­ around the world we appologize to Balotelli for the­ racist chanting he received in the Olimpico and as our­ president said we all condemned what happened... No­ Racism should be allowed anywhere in this world...­ Forza Juve

    From juveman74, on Tue 21 Apr 2:30AM

  5. why is everyone saying italian football is down just­ because they're not in the last four of the­ champions league? that's BS, Juve was close and­ they're still good, AC is rebuilding and will be­ fine before you know it, Inter has always choked, Roma­ did well, Lazio is coming up, Genoa is doing well,­ Udinese is doing well, Fiorentina is doing well... ppl­ need to stfu.. just cuz chelsea, man utd, arsenal, and­ liverpool have strengthened, doesn't mean that­ other leagues are losing quality.. it's just more­ of a testament to the clubs in the english league..­ italian football, german football, and spanish football­ are still more effective than english football who need­ foreign players to show how strong their style could be­ if their domestic players could play it right

    From y.khairzada, on Mon 20 Apr 9:35PM

  6. comment 18, that is good one why will he leave his­ original country of origin and adapt a foriegn name­ forgeting his fathers name to bear a foreigners name,­ that is stupid of him he should go back to Ghana.

    From sitamiky, on Mon 20 Apr 8:43PM

  7. ENGLISH HAVE NO CULTURE YOUR COUNTRY IS OVER RUN BY­ ASIANS.

    YOUR NATIONAL TEAM IS MANAGED BY AN ITALIAN­ LOL

    ITALY 4 WORLD CUPS

    ENGLAND 1

    LOLOL

    From LOL, on Mon 20 Apr 5:14PM

  8. comment number 6 you are just a F**l

    From timi, on Mon 20 Apr 4:44PM

  9. what was said? Because a lot of these officials and­ managers claim anything as racist. There is a­ difference between national jeers and racists, i dont­ think some of the t wats understand that

    From bobertyogurtum, on Mon 20 Apr 4:26PM

  10. I did rather advice Balotelli Mario Bawuah to come back­ home to ghana. Because in ghana there is no­ racism.Italian will continue to fostrate him. he will­ never be happy in Italy. from Abdel Ghana

    From talento_wood, on Mon 20 Apr 3:14PM

  11. 4 world cups.....how many do the chavs have again....oh­ right 1

    From justin, on Mon 20 Apr 2:54PM

  12. Sabbir - I hear what you're saying, but good luck­ getting a player not to play in Spain or Italy just­ because of the racism. Deep down unless they're­ actually affected I doubt they care much about it. You­ try telling somebody not to play in Spain when he's­ on 100,000 euros a week.

    From rookinio, on Mon 20 Apr 2:45PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    *** MillLounge C OM ***

    Totally FREE social site with­ big database to help you find the other half.

    From er_lucy19, on Mon 20 Apr 2:33PM

  14. well once again italians at it again here in england­ its totally out and best..as an asian indian i feel so­ secure and safe I go most weeknds to watch with my­ family....messers platini shud take not and learn from­ english ...not be busy trying to block them from wining­ champions league and being best league in world.....the­ italians follow their president who himself is racist­ and corrupt thats why they always re elect­ him..........eufa wont do anything accept give mediocre­ slap or fine ..i think its upto to players to take it­ into their own hands and not play in italy and spain­ which is no betta ........coem to england best league­ and best people !!!!!!!!! forget rascist europeans

    From SHABS127, on Mon 20 Apr 2:13PM

  15. Italian fans are the most aggressive, violent and­ rascist in the world. Their domestic game is in­ tatters. The standard of football is poor with all the­ Prem League cast-offs and rejects making careers there.­ It's England and Italy 20 years ago reversed

    From david plessis, on Mon 20 Apr 2:07PM

  16. sdmoores am impressed by your analysis thanks

    From Iyah, on Mon 20 Apr 1:53PM

  17. Every1 is against italian teams and thats totally­ justified, there a disgrace to europe and football fans­ world wide, but nothing hardly ever gets done about it,­ i bet this will just be pushed to 1 side by uefa/fifa­ and fotgot about like all the other inccidents that­ happen over there, that is 1 place in the world where i­ would never want to go and watch a football match,­ scum.

    From terri-ann, on Mon 20 Apr 1:38PM

  18. Every1 is against italian teams and thats totally­ justified, there a disgrace to europe and football fans­ world wide, but nothing hardly ever gets done about it,­ i bet this will just be pushed to 1 side by uefa/fifa­ and fotgot about like all the other inccidents that­ happen over there, that is 1 place in the world where i­ would never want to go and watch a football match,­ scum.

    From terri-ann, on Mon 20 Apr 1:38PM

  19. Italians are cowards, they never cause trouble away­ from home, only do it when there in a big firm, and­ even then they run off

    From Alex fergusons big red conk, on Mon 20 Apr 1:37PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    to be honest..He FuKin deserves it , he is arrogant(I­ can accept players like Ronaldo,­ berbatov..being"acting" arrogant but him?!­ who the @#$% he thinks himself?!) , overrated, piece of­ overhyped Cr-ap

    From 3.14, on Mon 20 Apr 1:36PM
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