FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned after another incident that “the racism problem is not improving in Italy,” but Gian Piero Gasperini disagrees.
Play was halted for three minutes during Atalanta’s 2-2 draw with Fiorentina, played on neutral turf in Parma, when Viola player Dalbert heard racist abuse from the stands.
As per the Italian protocol, a warning was read out over the stadium speaker telling the crowd that if the abuse persisted, the game would be suspended.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned after another incident that “the racism problem is not improving in Italy,” but Gian Piero Gasperini disagrees.
Play was halted for three minutes during Atalanta’s 2-2 draw with Fiorentina, played on neutral turf in Parma, when Viola player Dalbert heard racist abuse from the stands.
As per the Italian protocol, a warning was read out over the stadium speaker telling the crowd that if the abuse persisted, the game would be suspended.
“It was the right decision and I realise it was not a simple one,” Infantino told Rai Sport.
“Racism is to be battled with education, by condemning it, talking about it. We cannot have racism in society or in football. The racism problem is not improving in Italy and that is serious.
“We need to identity those who are responsible and throw them out of the stadiums. We need, like in England, a guarantee of punishment.
“We mustn’t be afraid to condemn racists, we have to fight them to the end.”
However, Atalanta Coach Gasperini was asked about the incident in his Press conference.
“Nobody heard these racist chants other than Dalbert. If some idiot said something to insult him, that is different. It’s serious, it happens in all stadiums, we get insulted in Florence too.
“We must condemn racism, but can’t go individually counting each one who aims an insult at you. That is a very different situation.”