'Grave Defeat For Football': Napoli Furious As Racism Victim Koulibaly Loses Appeal
Muhammad Rameez Published January 19, 2019 | 10:51 AM
Milan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jan, 2019 ) :Serie A club Napoli have blasted an Italian football federation appeals court's decision to reject Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly's appeal against his two-match ban as "a great opportunity missed to fight racism".
French-born Koulibaly was targeted by monkey noises and racist chants in Napoli's 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan at the San Siro on December 26, before being sent off for sarcastically applauding referee Paolo Mazzoleni.
But an FIGC appeals court on Friday said it did not want to create a precedent where being subjected to racist abuse "could otherwise be used to justify any act of violence".
"(The) unacceptable atmosphere that was created inside the stadium during the match has no relevance and cannot be considered justification for an athlete to mock the referee," the FIGC said.
The 27-year-old had already missed Napoli's 3-2 win over December 29, and will miss this weekend's game against Lazio.
"The rejection of our appeal is a grave defeat for football," Napoli said in a statement issued through spokesman Nicola Lombardo.
"A battle that UEFA have been carrying on -- with Napoli's support for many years -- has been humiliated.
"But the defeat is also for those who, mistakenly, maintain there is no racism in stadiums, that hurling abuse at black people, Neapolitans and Jews is only done by a handful of people.
"Thousands of people (7,400 estimated by the Federal representative in the stadium)insulted Koulibaly because he is black.
Recent Stories
At least 10 people killed in Brazil fire: officials
Shahzaib Rind calls on Deputy Speaker Balochistan
Ahsan chairs 13th CPEC-JCC preparatory meeting, reviews arrangements for high-le ..
DC Tharparkar inaugurates anti-polio campaign
HDA Mehran workers demand salaries
Taxila police nab motorcycle lifter gang
Inter-university weightlifting championship kicks off at SAU
Walk held in a series of enrollment campaigns
Team from Gaza mediator Egypt arrives in Israel for truce talks
Kids murders: IHC orders psychiatric examination of mother
Health minister credits PML-N for advancements in organ transplantation
Court grants interim bail to Azam Swati in cyber crime case
More Stories From Sports
-
Shahzaib Rind calls on Deputy Speaker Balochistan
17 minutes ago -
Inter-university weightlifting championship kicks off at SAU
21 minutes ago -
T20 World Cup 2024 Trophy unveiling ceremony held
17 minutes ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
2 hours ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 table
2 hours ago -
New Zealand cricket CEO visits PSCA, expresses satisfaction over security arrangements
2 hours ago
-
Asia Cricket Week from April 28
4 hours ago -
Spanish football federation appoints Rocha as president
6 hours ago -
Father, son killed in firing
9 hours ago -
Victor Boniface: Leverkusen boss Alonso makes you 'up your game'
13 hours ago -
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable victory over UAE
17 hours ago -
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
23 hours ago