Juventus have been ordered to play a home game behind closed doors by the Italian league.
Turin outfit must play behind closed doors after racist abuse
Juventus have been ordered to play a home game behind closed doors by the Italian league.
The Turin-based outfit have been punished after sections of their supporters racially abused visiting striker Mario Balotelli during Saturday's 1-1 Serie A draw with Inter Milan at the Stadio Olimpico.
The league's disciplinary body found on Monday that the abuse happened on numerous occasions during the game and could not be excused as sporting passion.
"The sporting judge considered that in the course of the game and on multiple occasions, fans of the home team, in various sections of the stadium, sang songs which included racial discrimination," read a statement.
"Juventus are therefore obliged to play one game behind closed doors."
Clamp down
Racist abuse is not uncommon in the Italian game and small fines are usually handed out, but the seriousness of Saturday's incidents has prompted the authorities to take a firmer stance.
The statement, in conjunction with the Italian football federation, added that the abuse was deplorable.
Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli had earlier condemned the chants towards Balotelli, an Under-21 international for Italy.
Inter president Massimo Moratti has also spoken out against the abuse, claiming the majority of Juve fans were responsible.
"What I find terrible is that these chants were sung by at least four-fifths of the stadium," he told the
Corriere della Sera.
"Had I been at the stadium, at a certain point I would have left my seat in the stands, I would have gone down on the field and pulled out the team. There must be a limit."
Born in Palermo to Ghanaian immigrants, Balotelli was brought up by an Italian family whose surname he now uses.
