Soccer: Milan stadium ban suspended
(ANSA) – Rome, October 11 – An Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) tribunal on Friday suspended an order for AC Milan’s next home game to be played behind closed doors while it considers the case.
Milan are appealing against the ban handed down because some of their fans abused Neapolitans during last weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Juventus. The ban was given under FIGC’s tough new anti-racism regulations, which were brought in at the end of last season in line with directives from European soccer’s governing body UEFA, and put “regional discrimination” on a par with abuse that refers to people’s skin colour or ethnic origin.
Club executives have said the punishments mean teams can be held hostage by small groups of fans, while many supporters have complained “regional discrimination” is less serious than racism.
Milan Chief Executive Adriano Galliani said Wednesday that the seven-time European champions would appeal to “all the forums possible against the stadium closure”.
Inter Milan fans have called on supporters across the country to sing “discriminatory chants” during the next set of Serie A fixtures to see if the authorities take action against everyone.