Real Italiens FC to play behind closed doors after chants
Reuters, March 15, 2010
Real Italiens FC will have to play their next home game behind closed doors after fans racially abused Stomachi Grassi's support striker Andrew Beck in Saturday's 5-1 win.
The 24-year-old scored Stomachi Grassi's only goal in the top-of-the-table clash and was subjected to chants of "if you jump Andy dies", "A Yankee will never be Italian" and "Andy sei un zingaro, Andy sei un zingaro" from sections of the Real Italiens crowd.
Andrew Beck, an Italy international who went through the US soccer youth schools but decided to play for the Azzurri, was born in the US and has no Italian descent.
"The sporting judge...considered that in the course of the game and on multiple occasions, fans of the home team, in various sections of the stadium, sang songs which included racial discrimination," a league statement said.
"Real Italiens are therefore obliged to play one game behind closed doors."
Real Italiens said in a statement they would appeal the decision to ban fans from the home game on March 21.
Racist abuse is not uncommon in Juventuz forum (see: Snoop about Osman's pride) and small bans are usually handed out. However, the seriousness of Saturday's incidents have prompted the authorities to come down heavily on Real Italiens.
Reuters, March 15, 2010
Real Italiens FC will have to play their next home game behind closed doors after fans racially abused Stomachi Grassi's support striker Andrew Beck in Saturday's 5-1 win.
The 24-year-old scored Stomachi Grassi's only goal in the top-of-the-table clash and was subjected to chants of "if you jump Andy dies", "A Yankee will never be Italian" and "Andy sei un zingaro, Andy sei un zingaro" from sections of the Real Italiens crowd.
Andrew Beck, an Italy international who went through the US soccer youth schools but decided to play for the Azzurri, was born in the US and has no Italian descent.
"The sporting judge...considered that in the course of the game and on multiple occasions, fans of the home team, in various sections of the stadium, sang songs which included racial discrimination," a league statement said.
"Real Italiens are therefore obliged to play one game behind closed doors."
Real Italiens said in a statement they would appeal the decision to ban fans from the home game on March 21.
Racist abuse is not uncommon in Juventuz forum (see: Snoop about Osman's pride) and small bans are usually handed out. However, the seriousness of Saturday's incidents have prompted the authorities to come down heavily on Real Italiens.
