Ranieri vows to take players off if racist fans chant

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri insisted he would order his players off the pitch if there is a repeat of the racist chanting that was directed at Inter Milan’s Mario Balotelli last weekend.

Juve have been hit with a supporters ban for their next home match against Lecce after Italian football authorities acted swiftly to the racist chants at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico, although the club have appealed that decision.

And speaking to La Repubblica, Ranieri said he would take action himself next time.

“I will call over (Alessandro) Del Piero, our captain, and the captain of the other team and the fourth pofficial, we’ll talk it over and we’ll take the only possible decision, to stop the match,” he said when asked what he would do if such chants were repeated.

“Before that we will try another measure by going to the stand from where the chants are emanating and try to get across to the fans with gestures and with words that it would be better to stop.”

Ranieri said that this was not a problem unique to Juventus, though, claiming that it was a “typical Italian vice”.

“It is a national, social problem, not only a football one,” he added. “I’m very disappointed about what happened but as a coach with grey hair all I can say is, avoid certain behaviour.”

That last comment was a clear reference to Balotelli who irked the Juventus faithful with his controversial on-field behaviour during the match.

Many people have since accused him of inciting the wrath of the fans, who subsequently racially abused him.