AC Milan midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng, of Ghana, sports a jersey reading "AC Milan against racism" prior to the start of the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Siena at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013. A friendly match between AC Milan and lower division club Pro Patria was abandoned last Thursday after racist chants directed at Milan's black players, the latest incident of racial abuse that continues to blight the sport. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
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AC Milan midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng, of Ghana, sports a jersey reading "AC Milan against racism" prior to the start of the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Siena at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013. A friendly match between AC Milan and lower division club Pro Patria was abandoned last Thursday after racist chants directed at Milan's black players, the latest incident of racial abuse that continues to blight the sport. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
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From left, AC Milan's Kevin Prince Boateng, Massimo Ambrosini, Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Nocerino sport jerseys reading "AC Milan against racism" as they warm up prior to the start of the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Siena at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013. A friendly match between AC Milan and lower division club Pro Patria was abandoned last Thursday after racist chants directed at Milan's black players, the latest incident of racial abuse that continues to blight the sport. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Italian body decides on procedures in racism cases
ROME (
AP) — Italy's watchdog body for sports events has announced that only a special public order officer will have the power to suspend matches in cases of racism, intolerance or anti-Semitism.
The announcement comes after racist chants prompted AC Milan players to walk off the pitch during a friendly last week with fourth-division club Pro Patria.
The watchdog body, presided over by Italy's police chief and the Italian Football Federation, says referees need to contact the public order officer via the fourth official. The officer can then decide whether to suspend the match temporarily and warn fans via the public address system, or suspend the game definitively.
Earlier Wednesday, a preliminary judge barred six Pro Patria fans accused of inciting racism from all sports events in Italy for five years.
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