LAZIO’S Ultras will be shut out of their team’s next game for racially abusing two Lecce players.
The Stadio Olimpico’s ‘Curva Nord’, where the club’s hard-core fans sit, will be closed for Sunday’s game against Empoli.
The referee briefly halted Wednesday’s match at Lecce’s Via del Mare arena after Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda fell victim to racist chants.
In a statement yesterday, the Rome club said: “Lazio fans are not racists and cannot be associated with a few individuals who seriously damage the club’s image.”
A further inquiry into Napoli fans’ apparent racist taunts at Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku — on loan at Inter — has also been ordered.
Ex-Barcelona star Umiti was reduced to tears following the sickening chants from the travelling supporters.
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The abuse forced the referee to bring the game to a halt at one point.
And the Lazio fans were asked to stop, while the Leece faithful responded by singing Umtiti’s name.
But the defender was crying as he left the pitch after his side came from behind to win the game 2-1.
Lecce president Sticchi Damiani said: “I hugged Samuel, as I do with all his teammates.
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“After each match, regardless of the result, I want to greet the boys and the staff.
“When the referee stopped the game, waiting for the announcer to call for an end to the racist chants, Umtiti asked for the game to resume because he wanted to respond to the insults he received on the pitch.
“He reacted like a true champion.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
