The racist chants from Lazio fans addressed to Lecce players Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda will cost the Biancocelesti the closure of the Stadio Olimpico’s Curva Nord for one match, Serie A’s sporting judge ruled on Thursday.
Umtiti was reduced to tears during his side’s 2-1 comeback victory over Lazio after hearing racist abuse coming from the away end targeting him and his teammate Banda.
The match was temporarily stopped by the referee in the second half, with the stadium announcer warning that further abuse would result in a permanent game suspension.
According to the sporting judge’s verdict, the racist taunts came from ‘almost all’ of the fans occupying the visitor section, leading to the decision to close the Curva Nord terrace at the Stadio Olimpico for one game, which will see Lazio take on Empoli in Rome.
The Biancocelesti published an official statement claiming they will use ‘all the tools available against every form of racism and discrimination’, but insisting their fans ‘are not racist’.