Inter Milan fans racially abuse player in first match since stadium closure for Koulibaly monkey chants

Lazio stunned Inter Milan at the San Siro winning 4-3 on penalties to adavnce to the semi-final of the Coppa Italia.

Inter Milan fans racially abused an opposition player in the first match at San Siro since the stadium closure following monkey chants aimed at Kalidou Koulibaly on Boxing Day, but will face no further action. 

After the 1-0 home defeat, Lega Serie A agents heard renewed chants of a racially discriminatory nature aimed at a Bologna player on Sunday.

However, these chants were not audible for long as the rest of the stadium took matters into their own hands and drowned them out, according to a Lega Serie A disciplinary statement, which stated the club would consequently not face any punishment.

“Some Inter Milan supporters located in the ‘Secondo anello verde’ were heard, in the 39th minute of the second half, making insulting chants of a racially discriminatory nature towards an opposition player,” the statement read.

“Considering that the chants were immediately drowned out by whistles of disapproval from the rest of the spectators, and in view of the percentage of people involved in making those chants in the indicated sector, and that these were effectively cancelled out by the disassociation of the remainder of the spectators, no disciplinary sanctions will be taken against Inter Milan for the behaviour of some of their followers.”

Prior to Sunday’s game, fans located in the Curva Nord — where Sunday’s chants were heard emanating from — distributed a fanzine in which they labelled Koulibaly a “little man” and defended their behaviour on Boxing Day, while criticising the club for the stance they have taken against racism.

Inter accepted the Lega Serie A’s punishment of a two-game stadium closure, with parts of the Curva Nord remaining closed for a third game, and launched a campaign to fight racism and discrimination.

The club also allowed several thousand children to attend their behind-closed-doors Serie A fixture with Sassuolo, receiving approval from the Lega to open the stadium.