ITALY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Italians have supported the decision made by AC Milan players to abandon a friendly soccer match after racist chanting

Record ID: 860177

  • Title: ITALY: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Italians have supported the decision made by AC Milan players to abandon a friendly soccer match after racist chanting
  • Date: 4th January 2013
  • Summary: PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RESIDENT STEFANO SAYING: "Probably what happened yesterday should become the model rather than the exception." PEOPLE WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) PENSIONER ROMANINA MARCUALDI SAYING: "It was right to be suspended, and unjust that these things should happen." VARIOUS PEOPLE ON STREETS
  • Embargoed: 19th January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy
  • City:
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3IUU78VAR5LIDYMCNWHIZGOUR
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Italians on Friday (January 4) supported the decision made by AC Milan players to abandon a friendly match after racist chanting.
    AC Milan walked off the pitch during a friendly match at Italian fourth-tier side Pro Patria on Thursday (January 3) in protest at racist chanting by the home fans, causing the game to be abandoned after less than half an hour.

    "Just think if this sort of thing happened with a Milan v. Inter match, and this match was stopped, we have to think about it" said Inter Milan fan Francesco Pompilio.

    "It is not as though we can start deciding not to stop certain games, soccer matches must be stopped when these things happen, it is more important than the soccer" he said.
    Newspaper headlines on Friday all ran front page spreads with the story.

    "Racist chants and Milan leaves the pitch" ran one headline.
    "With Racism: Soccer leaves" ran another.
    People interviewed on the streets of Rome seemed to give unanimous support for the abandoning of the match.

    "Probably, what happened yesterday should become the model rather than the exception" said Rome resident Stefano.

    "It was right to be suspended, and unjust that these things should happen" said pensioner Romanina Marcualdi.
    Milan has promised to return to Busto Arsizio, where the match was played, to hold another friendly against Pro Patria in order not to disappoint fans.
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