Juve appeals closed-door match ruling

Source: Agencies | April 21, 2009, Tuesday |

Online Edition

JUVENTUS has appealed a ruling ordering the club to play its next Serie A home match in an empty stadium because of the racist insults hurled by fans at Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli during an Italian league match on the weekend.

An Italian sports judge made the ruling yesterday, two days after Balotelli was racially abused during a 1-1 draw at Turin's Olympic stadium.

The ruling means that Juventus must play in an empty stadium on May 3.

A statement posted on Juve's Web site today said the club would appeal the ruling.

Lapo Elkann, a member of the Agnelli family that owns Juventus, condemned the racial slurs by some fans and said he was saddened by them. But he contended that the ruling was an "absurdity."

"Balotelli is booed everywhere. It happens every Sunday also to (Mohamed) Sissoko," Elkann was quoted as saying in Corriere della Sera today. Sissoko is a Juventus midfielder from Mali.

"They are making Juve a scapegoat, and that annoys me," Elkann was quoted as saying.

Balotelli, an 18-year-old Italian who was born in Palermo, is of Ghanian descent.

Juventus had already apologized for the racist slurs.

Soccer

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Juve appeals closed-door match ruling

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