Inter have been fined €15,000 by the Lega Serie A after racist chants were directed at Milan striker Mario Balotelli during a league match against Chievo.
Former Inter striker Balotelli found himself the target of a section of Nerazzurri fans who sang racist chants about him as their side beat the Flying Donkeys 3-1 on Sunday night.
Inter president Massimo Moratti was quick to condemn the behaviour and Lega authorities duly decided to punish the San Siro outfit, with Juventus and Napoli also receiving fines for the actions of several supporters.
A statement published on cdn.legaseriea.it read: “A fine of €15,000 has been issued to Inter for having supporters who, in the 41st minute of the first half and the 42nd minute of the second half, directed expressions of racial discrimination to the player of another club.”
The Lega also confirmed issuing a fine of €15,000 to league leaders Juventus, whose fans were heard singing territorial songs about the fans of fierce rivals Napoli during a 2-0 victory over Fiorentina on Saturday night.
Napoli were handed a €15,000 fine after individuals in the away end were adjudged to have shone a laser pen at referee Daniele Orsato during a 1-1 draw at Lazio.
After being made aware of the chanting directed at Balotelli, Inter president Moratti outlined his hope there would not be a repeat during the Milan derby on February 24.
“I was told about it because I couldn’t make out clearly what they were saying. I’m very sorry about that,’’ Moratti told inter.it.
“I’m very sorry and I really hope it doesn’t happen during the derby.”
Meanwhile, significant fines were also issued to Genoa after angry fans interrupted a league match to force several players to hand over their shirts last year.
A large group of Genoa fans surrounded the tunnel area at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on April 22, with the home team losing 4-0 to Siena, threatening to invade the pitch unless they were granted an audience with the players.
The FIGC decided to punish the players who relinquished their shirts with €10,000 fines while issuing club president Enrico Preziosi with a €30,000 fine.