Italian Referee's Association (AIA) president Marcello Nicchi has
said that Mario Balotelli will be sent off if he were to leave the field
to protest racist chanting.
"Everyone is free to express their own opinions but there are rules.
Whoever leaves the field to make a protest, without warning the referee
or without being substituted will be sent off," Nicchi told Italian news
channel SkyTG24 on Friday.
"Less importance has to be given to this phenomenon as a media event and
more importance from what can be done realistically, be tough and
uncompromising with the idiots who sing these shameful chants."
Earlier this week, Balotelli said he would leave the field if he was
racially abused by fans again, after being repeatedly being targeted by
opposition fans in Italy.
"If it happens one more time, I'm going to leave the pitch, because it's so stupid," he said.
AS Roma supporters were the latest to shout monkey chants at him during
their goalless draw with AC Milan on Sunday, which was suspended for two
minutes by referee Gianluca Rocchi while players and the stadium
announcers tried to halt the abuse.
"I was about to leave the pitch on Sunday but they are going to think
that I wanted to leave because maybe we had some difficulty with the
game," the Italy striker added.
"I said it's better we play and then we talk, but if it wasn't for this reason I was going to leave the pitch."
Reuters
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