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Verona stadium ban for racial abuse of Mario Balotelli is suspended

Hellas Verona have had their partial stadium ban, which was imposed for the racial abuse of Mario...



Verona stadium ban for racial...
Soccer

Verona stadium ban for racial abuse of Mario Balotelli is suspended

Hellas Verona have had their partial stadium ban, which was imposed for the racial abuse of Mario Balotelli, suspended by Italian football authorities. 

The punishment was imposed earlier in November after the Brescia striker was subject to monkey chants during a Serie A game at the Stadio Bentegodi on November 3.

Balotelli kicked the ball into Poltrone Est section of the stadium from where the racist chants were emanating.

The former Manchester City and AC Milan striker then attempted to walk off the pitch in protest, before being convinced to stay.

At the time, referee Maurizio Mariani initiated the anti-racism protocol, stopping the match for several minutes and an anti-racism message was broadcast over the Bentegodi's PA system.

Balotelli would complete the match, and even scored a wonder-goal in the 85th minute.

In the wake of the controversy, Verona banned the head of the club's ultras for 11-years for racist remarks he made about Balotelli.

The club then has a one-game closure order on the 3,590 capacity Poltrone Est imposed by the Italian football federation - the FIGC.

However, the FIGC's appeals court have announced that the punishment had been suspended, pending further investigation.

It means Sunday's Serie A meeting with Fiorentina - Verona's first Serie A home game since the incident - will be open to a full Bentegodi.

A statement on Verona's site points to "various inconsistencies" in the evidence provided in the case, and say the decision to lift the stadium ban "is a reasonable measure".

The club's Operations Director Francesco Barresi added, We have always cooperated with the Authorities in charge, for the purpose of identifying any culprits, as required by the Sports Justice Code.

"We now await the outcome of the supplementary inquiry, naturally hoping for a definitive favorable decision and, in any case, fair for the Club and for our fans, also in light of the evaluation of sports justice, in similar cases, during the current sports season."

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Brescia Hellas Verona Italy Mario Balotelli Racism