Juve fans hit with new sanction for Balotelli abuse

Juventus were on Wednesday hit with a fourth sanction after fans once again targetted Inter Milan’s Mario Balotelli with a series of racist chants.

Juve already have been punished three times this season for their abuse of Balotelli, an Italian of Ghanaian origin.

One of those sanctions was the closure of the Turin Olympic Stadium’s south stand for Saturday’s visit of AS Roma.

However, fans chanted anti-Balotelli slogans during last weekend’s away match against Chievo in Verona and Juve have been punished again.

Following a meeting by the Italian Observatory, the body charged with handing out sporting punishments, Juve have also been barred from selling tickets in the north stand for the Roma match to anyone other than season-ticket holders.

Roma fans will only be allowed to buy single tickets.

Juve’s fans have also been barred from attending their Coppa Italia match away to Inter Milan on January 28 while they can buy only one ticket each for their next away match in Serie A, against Lazio.

There will also be an increase in police and stewards at Juve matches to try to put a stop to the chants.

“It’s a decision that we accept and we sympathise with,” said Juve’s commercial director Marco Fassone.

“The Observatory management wants to isolate this racist phenomenon by improving the external and internal services with police and stewards.

“Our case can used as a laboratory given that these things could also happen at other clubs.”

Italian Football Federation general manager Antonello Valentini exonerated Juve of all blame in the behaviour of a minority of supporters.

“It has been noted that Juve are the victims of these episodes. There is great recognition of the efforts Juve have made to combat racism.

“Because of this Juventus will be helped and supported by everyone to protect the club.”

When Juve were first punished for racial chants by their fans against Balotelli last season — they had to play a match behind closed doors — they were told it was for not having done enough to discourage those chants.