ROME -- Lazio’s football fans, from the notorious Curva Nord section of the stadium, have been banned from their home Olimpico stadium for at least the next two matches after hurling racist abuse at Kalidou Koulibaly, a player on rival Napoli’s team during their 2-0 defeat.

 After several racist chants from the Lazio supporters the referee, Massimiliano Irrati, was even caused to suspend the game for 4 minutes until the chanting stopped, earning him much praise from shocked onlookers.  Recently passed rules also state that had the chanting continued, Irrati could have called the match off entirely.

 Lazio has been given a fine of 50 thousand euros, with another sanction of 15 thousand euros to pay to the insulted Neapolitans.

 Keita Balde Diao, who plays as a striker for Lazio, took to social media after the match on Wednesday night to share his thoughts for Koulibaly, the victim of the racist chants on the part of the Lazio supporters at the Lazio-Napoli game, saying: “This game is much more than black, white or green!  I have a lot of respect for you my friend”.

 Koulibaly responded on social media after the event by thanking everyone for their messages of support, as well as the Lazio players and, in particular, the referee Irrati for his courage.

 This is not the first time Lazio have been sanctioned for their racism, coming one year after the abuse directed by Lazio supporters at Niang and Edenilson in the infamous Lazio-Genoa match, suggesting that this time the penalty could be much higher.

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