FIORENTINA’S MATCH AT Atalanta on Sunday was briefly halted in the first half due to racist abuse directed toward defender Dalbert.
With just over a half hour gone in the Serie A game at Stadio Ennio Tardini, referee Daniele Orsato signalled for the game to be stopped after Dalbert indicated he’d heard the abuse.
The game was brought to a halt as an announcement was read over the stadium loudspeaker imploring fans to halt the abuse.
The statement was drowned out by boos and whistles from the Atalanta supporters.
After a brief pause the game was resumed, with Fiorentina leading 1-0 after a goal from Federico Chiesa.
The incident on Sunday was yet another blight on Italian football, with the racist behaviour of some fans under the spotlight in the early season.
Inter forward Romelu Lukaku was also the subject of racist abuse in a game at Cagliari earlier this month.
As Lukaku stepped up to take a penalty, Cagliari supporters directed monkey chants toward the striker.
Despite the audible chants, Serie A ruled earlier this week that Cagliari would not be punished for the incident.
In announcing their decision, Serie A stated the chants could not be proven to be discriminatory due to the amount of other noise coming from the stands.
Last weekend, AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie was subjected to racist chants from Hellas Verona fans, another incident in a discouraging start to the season in Italy.
After the game, Hellas Verona issued a defiant statement on Twitter insisting that their fans had not racially abused Kessie.
“Racist chants against Kessie? Insults against [Gianluigi] Donnarumma? Maybe someone was baffled by the decibel of the Gialloblu supporters,” the club tweeted.
[We heard] unavoidable whistles against the referee’s decisions which still leave us very perplexed today.
“And then, lots of cheers for our gladiators at the end of the match. Let’s not stumble on clichés and old labels. Respect for Verona and its people.”
On Saturday, AC Milan announced prior to the derby against Inter that they would be launching an anti-racism task force to tackle discrimination in Italian football.
The Milan derby, which Inter won 2-0 in part thanks to a goal from Lukaku, was rebranded the “Derby Against Racism.”
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He’s a machine. Barely any mistakes
Even his mistakes are not bad. This looks like its over before the back 9.
After 10, Its all over now.
Back to 3 shots the gap now, should still be enough. I expect him to burn up the back 9
Ya would not want to talk too soon
Poll on sky sports over 40% thought rose would win .
Dreamers, although I wouldn’t begrudge another South African winner.
Most overrated game on the planet
Has shown great composure for a 21year old,deserves to win.
Made for life now I would imagine with all that money in top golf
tournaments,the 2nd gets over a million dollars.
Congratulations to Justin as well for been 2nd.
Spieth was simply brilliant for 72 holes, thoroughly deserved and I can see that being the first of many green jackets he dons. If he carries on playing like that we should get some brilliant battles between himself and Rory over the next 10 years.