Serie A judge inquires over Lukaku 'racial chants'

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 5 - Serie A's sporting judge on Thursday said he was opening an inquiry into alleged over racial chants directed at Inter's Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku during the Nerazzurri's 1-0 win over league leaders Napoli at the San Siro Wednesday night.
    The judge, Gerardo Mastrandrea, has in fact asked the federal inspectors for clarification on the chants allagedly addressed by Neapolitan fans to Lukaku, after giving Lazio fans a one-match stand closure for chants against two Lecce players in their 2-1 home win over the Biancpcelesti in Puglia.
    In his decisions on matchday 16, the judge speaks of 'chants of racial discrimination' by Napoli supporters "positioned in the third blue ring sector" of the San Siro, and asks the Federal Prosecutor's Office, if necessary "to further hear the (official) responsible for public order", noting that these areas of the ground are normally occupied by away fans.
    Italian Professional Footballers Association AIC on Thursday "firmly condemned" the racist abuse Lecce players Samuel Umtiti and Lameck Banda were subjected to by Lazio fans during the Serie A match between the teams on Wednesday - an incident that led Serie A's sporting judge to close the Lazio ultra end of the Olimpico for one game.
    The Rome club also released a statement condemning the racism during the match, which hosts Lecce won 2-1.
    Lazio, like many Italian teams, has a significant number of far-right supporters among its fans.
    They have been behind a series of shameful acts of racism and anti-Semitism in the past.
    There are also groups of Lazio fans that are against racism, such as the Lazio e Liberta' group, and are trying to combat the stereotype that depicts all the team's supporters as neo-fascists.
    Napoli's lead at the top of Serie A has been cut to five points after they lost 1-0 to Inter at San Siro on Wednesday, when the Italian to flight returned after the long break for the World Cup in Qatar. A header by Edin Dzeko was enough for fouth-placed Inter to bag all the points.
    Napoli have 41 points from 16 games, while second-placed AC Milan have 36 after a 2-1 win at Salernitana. Juve are two points further back in fourth and one point ahead of Inter thanks to a 1-0 win at second-bottom Cremonese. Sixth-placed AS Roma beat Bologna 1-0 at home and pulled level on points with city rivals Lazio, who suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at Lecce.
    (ANSA).