ROME, (Reuters) – UEFA wants matches to be halted if fans make racist chants, the European governing body’s president Michel Platini said yesterday.
Juventus were ordered to play their next home league game behind closed doors on Monday after fans racially abused Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli in Saturday’s 1-1 Serie A draw.
“We will call for play to be stopped for 10 minutes when these things happen and announcements to be made in the stadium,” Platini told a news conference in Rome. “If it continues the match will be stopped. Courage is needed when there is racism in the stands. That’s UEFA’s mission.”
Racist abuse is not uncommon in Italian soccer and small fines are usually handed out. However, the seriousness of Saturday’s incidents prompted the authorities to come down heavily on Juve.
“It is a difficult moment for the Italian soccer federation. It has taken its responsibility,” added ex-Juve player Platini.
Italian federation president Giancarlo Abete, who hopes to bring Euro 2016 to the country, told reporters that rules would be changed to allow games to be stopped because of racist chanting.
