MILAN (AP) — The back of the Hellas Verona stadium will have to remain empty when it plays its next home match due to racist chants and territorial insults during the match against Napoli.
Racist chants towards Neapolitan players Kalidou Koulibaly and Victor Osimhen — both black — occurred during Verona's 2-1 defeat on Sunday in Serie A. Nigerian Osimhen scored both goals for Napoli.
The night before the match, Verona fans hung a banner near the Bentegodi stadium with the geographical coordinates of Naples and the Russian and Ukrainian flags, suggesting that the southern city should be targeted for bombing.
The banner was signed by the “South Curve” — the bottom of the Bentegodi where the Verona ultras have their presence. That sector was shut down by a party.
Verona fans have been involved in numerous racist incidents and Serie A said on Tuesday that the most recent infringement did not merit leniency due to “the seriousness of the facts”.
The partial closure of the stadium will affect Verona in their match against Genoa on April 3.