Inter handed suspended sentence for more racist chants

Associated Press

19 March 2019 at 1:13 pm

AC Milan's Franck Kessie, left, fights for the ball with Inter Milan's Matias Vecino during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Inter Milan, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Inter Milan players celebrate end of the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Inter Milan, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 17, 2019. Inter Milan won 3-2. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan has been handed a suspended sentence of having one of its stands closed for a match after its fans were again found guilty of racist chanting.

The Italian league says in a statement that "a significant percent" of supporters in the stand in question were heard racially abusing AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie during Sunday's derby victory, in the seventh and 39th minutes of the first half.

The sentence will be suspended for a year but will be added onto any additional punishment if Inter's fans commit more racist abuse during that period.

It is the second time this season that Inter has been sanctioned for racial abuse.

Inter was forced to play two games in an empty stadium in January after a Dec. 26 game at San Siro was marred by racist chants aimed at Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

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