The Italian Football Association wants to proceed with the video evidence against racist behavior of fans. As the association announced, the technology should in future not only examine decisions of the referee, but also be used to identify racist spectators.
"In some cases, racist chants are noticed and not in others, so you have to look into why," said association president Gabriele Gravina in an interview with Italian television broadcaster Sky Sport. "I do not care how many fans join the songs, and you have to intervene on a case-by-case basis," he said.
Prominent events in Italy
In recent months, games have been repeatedly interrupted in Italy because players have been racially insulted. In the Serie A match between Atalanta Bergamo and Fiorentina, the referee reacted to racist chants. The Brazilian Florence professional Dalbert Henrique had approached the referee after he was racially abused by Atalanta fans.
Also Romelu Lukaku of Inter had been attacked. During a game in Cagliari, the Belgian national player resounded monkey sounds and cudgels. After the match, Inter fans caused outrage because they claimed in an open letter that this was not racism.
Scandal game in European Championship qualification
But outside of Italy there are problems with racist fans. In the European Championship qualification, the match between Bulgaria and England was interrupted twice because Bulgarian spectators racially attacked English players and showed Hitler salutes. After the match, six Bulgarian fans were arrested.
Previously, the Uefa had written a three-stage protocol to assist the referee. Only after two stoppages and stadium announcements referee should therefore cancel the game.