Rome: Italian Referee's Association (AIA) president Marcello Nicchi has said that Mario Balotelli will be sent off if he were to leave the field to protest racist chanting.
"Everyone is free to express their own opinions but there are rules. Whoever leaves the field to make a protest, without warning the referee or without being substituted will be sent off," Nicchi told Italian news channel SkyTG24 on Friday.
"Less importance has to be given to this phenomenon as a media event and more importance from what can be done realistically, be tough and uncompromising with the idiots who sing these shameful chants."
Earlier this week, Balotelli said he would leave the field if he was racially abused by fans again, after being repeatedly being targeted by opposition fans in Italy. "If it happens one more time, I'm going to leave the pitch, because it's so stupid," he said....
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05:27 PM, May 17, 2013
Rome: In the last weekend of Serie A, AC Milan need to protect a two-point lead over Fiorentina in the race for third place and a final Champions League berth. Milan and Fiorentina both visit relegated squads - Siena and Pescara, respectively. Nearly everything else in the Italian league has been decided, although several big coaching changes could come as soon as the season ends. Juventus clinched its 29th title...
11:05 AM, May 17, 2013
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has criticised the 50,000 euro ($64,850) fine handed to AS Roma for racist behaviour by their fans, describing the sanction as too weak and unacceptable. Blatter said he would call the Italian football federation, who he said had not been thorough enough in investigating Sunday's incident in the match at AC Milan. "What is surprising and is not understandable for me, is that the disciplinary committee...
06:51 PM, May 14, 2013
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri condemned Italian soccer culture as backward on Sunday after his team's match at home against AS Roma was interrupted by racist chanting from fans. Allegri also criticised the interruption, during which warnings were broadcast to the fans over the public address system, as an unsuccessful compromise and said that forward Mario Balotelli was being increasingly taunted by racist abuse. "People should go to the stadium...
01:12 PM, May 13, 2013
Milan: Although the title has already been secured by Juventus, there is still much to play for at both ends of the Serie A table, with AC Milan and Fiorentina fighting for the final Champions League spot. Milan is in pole position to finish third and earn a place in the Champions League qualifiers, as it is four points ahead of Fiorentina with three rounds remaining. Milan visits already-relegated Pescara...
12:10 PM, May 07, 2013
Milan: Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been handed a three-match ban for spitting at an opponent. Pogba was sent off in Sunday's 1-0 win over Palermo - which secured Juventus' second successive Serie A title - after he spat at Salvatore Aronica. The incident occurred seven minutes from full time. Pogba has impressed this season after moving from Manchester United on a free transfer in the summer. Under Monday's ruling,...
06:08 PM, May 06, 2013
Milan: AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri insists that he hoped to stay at the club but the final word rests with owner Silvio Berlusconi. Allegri has been the focus of speculation about his destination of next season, reports Xinhua. "I hope to remain at Milan but it depends on president Berlusconi. He has the final word. I have always had a good rapport with the president regardless of what...
11:51 AM, May 06, 2013
Milan: Fiorentina's Champions League hopes diminished as a late goal meant it lost 1-0 at home to Roma in the Serie A on Saturday, in a match where it hit the woodwork twice. Former Fiorentina striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, who scored a hat trick in last weekend's 4-0 win against Siena, headed in a corner in stoppage time. The result left Fiorentina one point behind AC Milan in the race...
09:28 AM, May 05, 2013
Rome: AC Milan have denied local media reports that manager Massimiliano Allegri will be moving to AS Roma at the end of the season. "AC Milan categorically denies what was published today in the pages of the Corriere della Sera regarding its manager Massimiliano Allegri," the club said on their website (www.acmilan.com) on Saturday. Milan-based daily Corriere della Sera said Allegri had accepted a three-year contract to move to the...
04:58 PM, May 04, 2013
Milan: AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli has complained that Serie A match officials are too harsh on him. The Italy international returned from suspension in the 4-2 win over Catania at San Siro Sunday. He had been banned for verbally abusing an assistant referee in the 2-2 draw at Fiorentina in early April. He was booked in the 72nd minute for reacting angrily when what he perceived to be a...
02:32 PM, Apr 30, 2013
Rio de Janeiro: Brazil's top-flight football club Botafogo have denied that their star midfielder Clarence Seedorf could return to Italian outfit AC Milan next season as coach. The 37-year-old is reportedly top on Milan president Silvio Berlusconi's list to replace under-pressure Massimiliano Allegri next season, reports Xinhua. "If he is able to be a Botafogo player and coach Milan at the same time, he can go. But I really need...
12:50 PM, Apr 28, 2013
Rome: Juventus have been fined 30,000 euro because a section of their fans were heard chanting racist abuse during Sunday's match against AC Milan. Some of the Bianconeri supporters were seen directing racial chants at AC Milan footballer Kevin-Prince Boateng during the Serie A clash, reports Xinhua. It is not the first time the midfielder has been subjected to such abuse this season. Earlier in the campaign during a friendly...
02:40 PM, Apr 23, 2013
Milan: AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has said that his team must not feel any pressure after Fiorentina closed the gap to them to just one point. Rossoneri suffered a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Juventus, their first one of 2013, and remained third in the standings, with only one point clear of Fiorentina, reports Xinhua. "The lads put in a good performance, allowing little and controlling the ball,"...
02:26 PM, Apr 22, 2013
Milan: Juventus head coach Antonio Conte claimed that his side's 1-0 win over AC Milan on Sunday night as a big step forward toward their second consecutive Serie A football title. Thanks to the win at home, the Bianconeri need only four points from the remaining five rounds to secure the title, reports Xinhua. "Milan were unbeaten in the second half of the season and we travelling up the table....
02:15 PM, Apr 22, 2013
Rome: Juventus edged AC Milan 1-0 with a second-half penalty in a marquee Serie A matchup Sunday that left the Rossoneri's hold on a Champions League berth dangerously loose. Arturo Vidal converted from the spot in the 57th minute after Milan's reserve goalkeeper Marco Amelia tripped Kwadwo Asamoah. Amelia replaced Christian Abbiati in the 15th after the starter was injured. Milan, who was without suspended Mario Balotelli, hardly threatened. Cruising...
09:00 AM, Apr 22, 2013
Rome: AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli will miss Sunday's top of the table clash at Juventus despite having his three-match suspension cut to two games. "The Federal Court of Justice has partially upheld an appeal by Milan and reduces the matches Mario Balotelli is banned for by three to two games, adding a fine of 20,000 euros in exchange for the third match," the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on...
10:30 PM, Apr 19, 2013
Rome: Robinho will stay with AC Milan next season and would like to complete 10 years at the Serie A club, the Brazil striker said on Friday. "I want to finish the season on a positive note, play well next season and then it will be time to renew," the Gazzetta Dello Sport quoted the attacker as saying on Friday. "I can assure you that these won't be my last...
06:13 PM, Apr 19, 2013
Rome: AC Milan desperately need a win to revive their hopes of direct qualification for the Champions League. Juventus haven't beaten Milan in Serie A since 2011 and want to demonstrate their supremacy as they march toward a second consecutive Italian title. With their last two meetings decided by questionable decisions from the referee, Sunday's match in Turin is attracting extra hype. With six rounds remaining in the Italian league,...
08:11 AM, Apr 19, 2013
