FiFA president Gianni Infantino calls for action to address racism in Italian stadums after a Serie A match was paused for racism against a player.
Infantino said the racism problem in Italian football has "not improved" after the FIFA match between Atlanta and Fiorentina was stopped for several minutes due to racist abuse against Brazilian player Dalbert. After half an hour of play, the 26-year-old Florentina defender requested for the referee to halt play at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.
The stadium speaker read out a warning statement to jeers and whistles from fans of Atlanta. After three minutes, the game resumed with Fiorentina leading 1-0 from a goal scored by Federico Chiesa.
Speaking to the Italian Rai2 channel ahead of the FIFA Best Awards, Infantino said "In Italy the situation has not improved and this is serious. Racism is fought through education, condemning it, talking about it, we cannot accept racism in society and in football. We have to identify those responsible and throw them out of the stadiums, we need clear sentences, as in England, we must not be afraid to condemn the racists, we must fight them to the end."
There have been several players targeted by racist abuse since the season started. Inter Milan's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku and AC Milan's Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie have been targeted by monkey cries during league games but no sanction has been imposed to the culprits. Last season, Juventus' French midfielder Blaise Matuidi, Napoli's Senegalese centre back Kalidou Koulibaly and Everton's Moise Kean.
Frank Ribery scored his first goal at the Serie A that gave Fiorentina its second goal to lead 2-0. However, Atlanta scored two late goals and settled for a 2-2 draw for the match against Fiorentina.
Atlanta was previously defeated by Dinamo Zagreb with a 4-0 loss at the Champions League.
