Italian chief wants games halted for racist chants

- 21 September 2009 - AFP

ROME (AFP) – Italian Footballers Association (AIC) president Sergio Campana on Monday called for referees to apply the rules and suspend a game if fans hurl racial abuse at players.

Inter Milan strikers Samuel Eto’o, a Cameroonian, and Mario Balotelli, an Italian of Ghanaian origin, were abused by home fans during Sunday’s 2-1 victory at Cagliari and Campana said if the referee had done his job, he should have stopped the game.

“Faced with this type of behaviour, referees should suspend the match, something which did not happen in Cagliari,” he said.

“In these cases the rules are very clear. Suspension of matches are part of the rules and rules have to be respected.”

Following Campana’s comments the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) clarified that a game can only be suspended for such an incident on the orders of the officer in charge of public order within the ground, whose role it is to inform the referee via one of his assistants or the fourth official that the game should be halted.

It is not the first time that Balotelli has been the target of such terrace chants in Italy. Last year Juventus were hit with a penalty forcing them to play a game behind closed doors after their fans dished out abuse to the young striker.

Eto’o was also the focus of repeated racist abuse during his time in Spain, once threatening to walk off the pitch in a match against Real Zaragoza until team-mates, opponents and the referee alike convinced him to play on.

“I believe such a gesture (suspending a match) would be very constructive on the referee’s part and would set an important precedent,” added Campana.