Marcello Nicchi the president of AIA, the Italian refereeing association, has shared his hopes to see those culpable of racist chanting identified and punished.
AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie became the latest player to be subjected to such chants in Italian football in the Rossoneri’s victory over Hellas Verona at the weekend just weeks after Inter’s Romelu Lukaku was also targeted.
“I hope that the people who partook in the racist chanting in Verona will be identified and punished for their behaviour. Here at the AIA, we have complete solidarity with people of colour who are the subject of these chants,” he said in an interview with Gr Parlamento show ‘La politica nel pallone.’
Nicchi then went on to state that it is not down to his referees to listen out for these chants.
“On the field, we have an obligation to referee, not to monitor what happens in a Curva at a stadium. I hope someone will be punished in an exemplary manner.”
