(ANSA) - Milan, April 22 - Inter Milan boss Jose' Mourinho on Wednesday took Juventus's side over the Turin club's claim it had been singled out for punishment after racist chants against Inter striker Mario Balotelli.
Mourinho said similar chants had been heard ''in many stadiums, including our own''.
In Balotelli's case, he said the Juve fans ''weren't displaying racism but an ignorant form of protest against someone who's just scored against you''. ''Italy isn't a racist country and Italian soccer isn't either''.
Juve are appealing a one-match stadium ban that will mean it plays its next home game, against Lecce on May 3, behind closed doors.
The club argues the measure will unfairly disrupt its Serie A run-in where it is fighting to keep second place.
Inter are ten points clear of Milan and Juve after Saturday's 1-1 draw in Turin, where Balotelli, a Ghanaian Italian, scored the opener.