- Thursday 27 February 2014
- My Account
- Logout
- Register
- Login
AC Milan 'furious' at being ordered to play behind closed doors at San Siro after fans 'abuse southern Italians'
Fans chanted 'We are not Neapolitans' at Napoli supporters at the weekend
Italy's football authorities have ordered AC Milan to play its next game behind closed doors and fined the club 50,000 euros following abusive chants by supporters against southern club Napoli.
During Sunday's match against Juventus in Turin, hundreds of Milan supporters shouted "We are not Neapolitans", a chant the Naples daily Il Mattino said reflected long-standing contempt for the south by northern clubs.
In the fiercely territorial world of Italian soccer, abusive rivalry between supporters of clubs in the rich north and those in the poorer south is not uncommon and Milan officials reacted with shock to the verdict by Serie A sporting judges.
"To say I'm furious would be putting it mildly," Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani told reporters. "I understand that racism is a big problem, a problem everywhere in the world but...here in Italy we have invented territorial discrimination for ourselves
"I called (Italian football) president (Giancarlo) Abete to ask whether he thinks that this rule is just. What I ask is that it is abolished."
A spokesman from the football federation (FIGC) said the rules were being applied in line with UEFA guidelines.
"It's not as though the rules are imposed on any club. It's down to a judge to decide on the punishment, and they can make their case against any decision," the spokesman said.
The sentence means that Milan, in 12th place in the Serie A standings after a 3-2 loss to Juventus on Sunday, will play its next home game on October 19 against Udinese behind closed doors.
The Serie A sporting judges also banned Milan defender Philippe Mexes for four matches for violent conduct after video evidence showed him punching Juventus player Giorgio Chiellini as Juventus was taking a corner.
The punch was not seen by the referee but Mexes was sent off for a second yellow card.
Reuters
voicesAndrew Sachs reveals that he’s still not talking to his granddaughter
Confused Japanese tourists pulled over at gunpoint after police chase
food + drink... and the skills to thrive there
sportThe under-fire manager will have to throw off his natural caution in the summer transfer market as club seek to reverse recent woes
Latest in Sport
Sport blogs
-
Scotland away kit: Pink and yellow strip receives mixed reception
-
Mesut Ozil back in training with Arsenal and says he is ready to return against Stoke City on Saturday
-
The worst kits in sport
-
Joel Campbell: I am ready to lead the Arsenal attack next season
-
David Moyes future: Manchester United manager given 12 games to prove he is the right man to lead £200m summer spending spree
- 1 Boy aged 14 charged with raping his mother in Blackpool
- 2 Man shoots himself in the head and dies while demonstrating gun safety
- 3 Cheerleading: The not so glamorous reality
- 4 Saudi preacher who 'raped and tortured' his five -year-old daughter to death is released after paying 'blood money'
- 5 Katy Perry 'Dark Horse' video causes offence after featuring burning 'Allah' pendant
-
Bernie Ecclestone ‘completely agrees’ with Vladimir Putin’s anti-gay laws, and so do ‘90 per cent of the world’, says F1 boss
-
Volcanic eruptions ‘contributed to global warming pause’, scientists claim
-
India's gay community scrambling after court decision recriminalises homosexuality
-
Independence row gets vicious as First Minister Alex Salmond accuses UK Government of being 'thieves' who plunder Scotland's oil and gas reserves
-
Scottish independence: Warnings over pound ‘swaying undecided voters’ as poll shows strong lead for 'No' vote
-
Why a new Ukraine is the Kremlin's worst nightmare
Win £250 UNIQLO vouchers
For your chance to win £250 worth of vouchers to spend online, UNIQLO is asking readers to review your favourite pair of UNIQLO Jeans.
Win an Ultimate Rimmel London Makeover kit
We’re teaming up with Rimmel London to give away an ultimate London makeover kit worth over £250 to one lucky winner.
This is Kenya
Exploring hidden coastal coves and witnessing the greatest wildlife show on earth are just a few of the experiences that Kenya has to offer.
Win a luxury two-night break in York
Plus two East Coast return tickets from London to York and two York Passes
Win flights to Vietnam with Westfield
Westfield is launching a five week celebration of food. To celebrate the programme Westfield, in partnership with Pho, is offering readers the chance to win two return flights to Vietnam.
What has Europe ever done for you?
Most of us are unaware of what we are entitled to as EU citizens. Find out more - plus your chance to debate Europe's future.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
The European debate: Reader survey
Take part in our reader survey on European rights. plus your chance to join the debate on Europe's future.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.