The Italian League affirms intolerance of racism

Serie A’s chief executive said on Tuesday that his country will take a “zero tolerance” approach to racist fans by using technology to help identify and prevent them from entering stadiums.

The issue of racist abuse of players tops the agenda in European football after Vinicius Junior, the Real Madrid player, was targeted during his team’s match this weekend against Valencia in Spain.

“There is a percentage of racists in the stadiums and in society,” Serie A chief executive Luigi De Cervo told reporters.

He added, “Today, with the presence of technology and internal radios in stadiums, we can hear these people and punish them. It is a battle. Like a tumor, you have to remove it systematically, even if it recurs.”

De Cervo indicated that Italy banned about 170 Juventus fans after they directed hostile chants against Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku in the Italian Cup semi-final last month, describing it as a step on the path of “zero tolerance” for racists.