Inter Milan want kids allowed into behind-closed-doors game after racism sanctions

Maurizio Sarri stands by Kalidou Koulibaly of his former club Napoli after the defender allegedly received racial abuse against Inter.

Inter Milan manager Luciano Spalletti insists Italian football needs a complete change of its mentality after Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly suffered racial abuse in Inter’s 1-0 victory.

Inter Milan will not be appealing the Lega Serie A’s decision to close San Siro for their next two fixtures, although they have requested that children be granted access.

Inter face Benevento in the Coppa Italia and Sassuolo in Serie A behind closed doors due to sanctions imposed for the monkey chants aimed at Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly in their 1-0 win on Boxing Day.

The Nerazzurri confirmed on Tuesday that they have accepted the Lega Serie A’s decision, although in a statement they said they have “submitted a request to the Italian FA and the Lega Serie A to offer the possibility for boys and girls of the Nerazzurro football schools, and for boys and girls of the Centro Sportivo Italiano to be able to attend the game against Sassuolo.”

Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was racially abused by Inter Milan fans during his side's 1-0 defeat at San SiroKalidou Koulibaly was targetted by Inter fans when Napoli visited the San Siro.

The statement added: “This is an important initiative to send out a strong and clear signal against any form of discrimination and violence.”

Inter can refer to precedents set by the Lega Serie A and Juventus when parts of the Juventus Stadium, which had been closed for racial and territorial discrimination, were opened up to children earlier this season.

Juve launched the same initiative in 2013, when both the Curva Sud and the Curva Nord were closed. However, it backfired with many of the children copying their peers by making similar discriminatory chants in a 1-0 win over Udinese, leading to further sanctions.

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