According to a Serie A press release, the racist chanting -- which forced the game to be stopped for two minutes early in the second half -- was directed at three AC Milan players. AS Roma captain Francesco Totti walked over and attempted to silence the giallorossi fans, before a stadium announcement ordered they stop before play resumed. Their fine of €50,000 comes alongside a warning, meaning that a repeat of such an incident could result in Roma having to play a match behind closed doors.
Roma fined after racist abuse aimed at Milan players
After three of AC Milan’s players were racially abused by Roma supporters in their goalless draw on Sunday, the giallorossi have been fined €50,000 and handed an official warning.
Claudio Villa
Sadly it's not the first high-profile occasion that Milan's players have been subject to racism this season -- in a friendly against fourth-tier side Pro Patria in January, Kevin-Prince Boateng led his side off the field after he was abused alongside M'Baye Niang, Urby Emanuelson and Sulley Muntari. Pro Patria were ordered to play one game behind closed doors, and the FIGC announced that they would be willing to suspend games in future.
The temporary suspension of last night’s game was a very small step in the authorities standing up to the racism still rooted in Italian football, though sadly the meagre fine will do nothing to stop it happening again in the future.
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