Serie A - Juve fined over Balotelli chants

Reuters - Tue, 24 Nov 15:18:00 2009

Juventus have been fined £18,000 after fans continually chanted an offensive song about Internazionale striker Mario Balotelli at the weekend.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Serie A Mario Balotelli Inter - 0

Home supporters sang: "If you jump up and down, Balotelli will die" during Juve's 1-0 Serie A win over Udinese on Sunday.

A debate in Italy has been raging about whether the phrase is racist given Balotelli, born in Palermo, is black.

The league's disciplinary commissioner decided the new chant was "insulting and incites violence" but did not say it was racist.

Last season Juve were forced to play a game behind closed doors after fans chanted "a black Italian does not exist" at 19-year-old Balotelli in a match against Inter in Turin.

Juve fans have been singing the new chant for several months but with the top-of-the-table clash with leaders Inter coming up in two weeks, the authorities have now decided to fine the club.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho said on Monday he wanted the December 5 game to take place in Turin but reckoned there was a chance the match would be moved away because of the song.

Meanwhile, Inter right back Maicon will miss the Juve clash after being given a two-game suspension for being sent off for swearing at the referee in Saturday's 3-1 win at Bologna.

Bologna avoided sanction from the disciplinary commissioner despite media reports of isolated monkey chants from home fans towards Balotelli, who has angered rival fans and even his own coach with his abrasive attitude in the past two seasons.

The league also said Napoli's Leandro Rinaudo and Lazio's Julio Cruz have been banned for three games for fighting in Sunday's 0-0 draw in Naples.

Reuters

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  1. Balotteli is very stupid, they dont like you but you­ still force yourself on them why cant you play for­ Ghana, in fact he have too much self Ego he will never­ be a regulare in the italina team, if he dont want to­ play for Ghana let him go to hell beside he is not­ playing any thing, if he is good let him bench­ Eto'o or milito he is just dreaming if he is­ waiting for lippi

    From Flora, on Thu 3 Dec 9:23PM

  2. WTF.. Every weekend chants like this are sung. Bartolli­ has the de-facto protection against any chant because­ he is black and that is unacceptable.

    From Half A Brain, on Wed 25 Nov 11:30PM

  3. are you interested in african football? visit­ africaplays.come
    are you interested in african­ football? visit africaplays.come

    From Second S, on Tue 24 Nov 6:51PM
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