Giorgio Chiellini ‘ashamed’ of Fiorentina fans’ racist abuse of Napoli players

"We need laws and rules that are applied"

Giorgio Chiellini has stated that he is "ashamed" of the racist abuse Fiorentina fans directed at Napoli players. Napoli players Kalidou Koulibaly and Victor Osimhen took to social media to condemn the racist abuse that they received from Fiorentina fans during Luciano Spalletti side's 2-1 victory over the Florence club last week. Lucas Martinez Quarta opened the scoring for Fiorentina, before goals from Hirving Lozano and Amir Rrahmani ensured Gli Azzurri secured all three points.  As well as Senegalese defender Koulibaly and Nigeria striker Osimhen, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, on loan at Napoli from Fulham, was also racially abused, according to reports. 

"We need laws and rules that are applied," said Juventus and Italy defender Chiellini.

"I was ashamed, as an Italian and a Tuscan, also because Italy is not a racist country for me.

"Something more must be done, otherwise from outside we give a bad image of ourselves."

https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1445650941508653057

Osimhen has called for supporters to "understand how disgusting it is to hate an individual because of the colour of their skin", while Koulibaly has insisted that racist fans must be "kept out of stadiums forever".

In response to the incidents, Fiorentina said the club expressed "the most firm and harsh condemnation for the episodes of racism that took place", stating that CCTV footage from the game will be provided to the authorities in order to help identify the "culprits".

The Italian Football Federation has opened an investigation into the incident at the Artemio Franchi Stadium, with an inquiry into alleged racist chants by Lazio fans directed at AC Milan midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, who is currently on loan from Chelsea, also taking place.

Related links:

• Hungarian FA handed fine and stadium ban for racist abuse of England players
• West Brom fan who racially abused Romaine Sawyers sentenced to eight weeks in prison
• Cheshire man sentenced for racist abuse of England players after Euro 2020