Ahead of Sunday’s Serie A clash between Napoli and Carpi at the Stadio San Paolo, the home fans produced a lovely act of support for the Partenopei’s defensive star Kalidou Koulibaly, who had suffered appalling racial abuse from Lazio fans last week.
The vile abuse suffered by the Senegalese defender at the Stadio Olimpico caused Wednesday’s game to be temporarily suspended by ref Massimo Irrati, although it did eventually get back underway, with Napoli winning 2-0. However on Sunday, in tribute to Koulibaly, the Napoli fans held up pictures of the 24 year-old’s face…
In light of the original incident, Lazio are to serve a two-match partial stadium ban, with the Curva Nord of the Stadio Olimpico to be closed for their next couple of home games. However, with overt bigotry of all shades still very much a part of Italian football, isn’t it about time harsher penalties such as points deductions were introduced. As it stands, the problem is unlikely to go away anytime soon.