Racial abuse aimed at Balotelli sees AC Milan's clash with Roma suspended

AC Milan's Serie A game on Sunday night was
temporarily suspended because of racist abuse
directed towards Mario Balotelli and other
black players by Roma fans.
Referee Gianluca Rocchi halted the game and
the stadium announcer told Roma supporters
they must desist with their monkey chants
against black Milan players, or the game would
be postponed.
Earlier Sulley Muntari was sent off for
restraining the referee when it seemed like he
was going to issue Balotelli a second yellow
card.
Disgrace: Roma fans aimed racist abuse at
Mario Balotelli
Halted: Balotelli and Kevin Prince-Boateng
stand together during the stadium
announcement
Roma captain Francesco Totti and his Milan
counterpart Massimo Ambrosini were among
the senior players who had complained to
Rocchi before he suspended play.
Totti was later sent off for an elbow on Milan
defender Phillipe Mexes, as the game petered
out to a 0-0 draw.
In January a friendly between Milan and Pro
Patria was suspended because of racist chants
aimed at Kevin-Prince Boateng.
The Italian Football Federation introduced new
rules to help referees tackle racist behaviour in
the wake of Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince
Boateng's decision to walk off the pitch in a
January friendly against Pro Patria in the face
of abuse.
Dismissed: Sulley Muntari was sent off for
restraining the referee
Referees are now able to call matches to a halt
for an announcement to be made demanding
an end to chants.
Should any such announcements fail to have
an effect on offenders, match and stadium
officials are ultimately authorised to abandon
the game.
You're off: Totti was dismissed for a vicious
elbow on Phillipe Mexes
Hold up: The game was nearly postponed
because of the abuse