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Racial abuse aimed at Balotelli sees AC Milan's clash with Roma suspended
By RIK SHARMA
PUBLISHED: 15:10 EST, 12 May 2013 | UPDATED: 15:59 EST, 12 May 2013
AC Milan's Serie A clash with Roma was temporarily suspended because of racist abuse directed towards Mario Balotelli.
Referee Gianluca Rocchi halted the game and the stadium announcer told Roma fans they must desist with their monkey chant or the game would be postponed.
Earlier Sulley Muntari was sent off for restraining the referee when it seemed like he was going to issue Balotelli a second yellow card.
Disgrace: Roma fans aimed racist abuse at Mario Balotelli
Halted: Balotelli and Kevin Prince-Boateng stand together during the stadium announcement
Roma captain Francesco Totti and his Milan counterpart Massimo Ambrosini were among the senior players who had complained to Rocchi before he suspended play.
Totti was later sent off for an elbow on Milan defender Phillipe Mexes.
The Italian Football Federation introduced new rules to help referees tackle racist behaviour in the wake of Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng's decision to walk off the pitch in a January friendly against Pro Patria in the face of abuse.
Referees are now able to call matches to a halt for an announcement to be made demanding an end to chants.
Should any such announcements fail to have an effect on offenders, match and stadium officials are ultimately authorised to abandon the game.
More to follow.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2T7BaynEh
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PUBLISHED: 15:10 EST, 12 May 2013 | UPDATED: 15:59 EST, 12 May 2013
AC Milan's Serie A clash with Roma was temporarily suspended because of racist abuse directed towards Mario Balotelli.
Referee Gianluca Rocchi halted the game and the stadium announcer told Roma fans they must desist with their monkey chant or the game would be postponed.
Earlier Sulley Muntari was sent off for restraining the referee when it seemed like he was going to issue Balotelli a second yellow card.
Disgrace: Roma fans aimed racist abuse at Mario BalotelliHalted: Balotelli and Kevin Prince-Boateng stand together during the stadium announcementRoma captain Francesco Totti and his Milan counterpart Massimo Ambrosini were among the senior players who had complained to Rocchi before he suspended play.
Totti was later sent off for an elbow on Milan defender Phillipe Mexes.
The Italian Football Federation introduced new rules to help referees tackle racist behaviour in the wake of Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng's decision to walk off the pitch in a January friendly against Pro Patria in the face of abuse.
Referees are now able to call matches to a halt for an announcement to be made demanding an end to chants.
Should any such announcements fail to have an effect on offenders, match and stadium officials are ultimately authorised to abandon the game.
More to follow.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2T7BaynEh
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook