Traffic Exchange

May 13, 2013

Match racist jeers: Milan held in match halted by racist jeers

AC Milan's hopes of Champions League football next season lie in the balance after they had Sulley Muntari dismissed before halftime and drew 0-0 with AS Roma on Sunday in a match briefly halted for racist behaviour in the crowd.

Visitors Roma's 36-year-old captain Francesco Totti was also sent off for elbowing in an unsavoury match which was halted for around one minute because of chanting by Roma fans aimed at Milan's Mario Balotelli.

Fiorentina kept up the chase on third-placed Milan by beating Palermo 1-0 in atrocious conditions, condemning the Sicilians to Serie B after a turbulent season in which they employed three different coaches, two of them twice.

Siena, beaten 2-1 at Napoli, also went down, joining previously relegated Pescara in Serie B while Genoa, held 0-0 at home by injury-ravaged Inter Milan, and Torino, who drew 1-1 at Chievo Verona, scrambled to safety.

Serie A leading scorer Edinson Cavani struch Napoli's first goal, taking his tally to 28 for the season.

Napoli had already clinched second place behind champions Juventus and a place in the Champions League group stage next season.

Antonio Di Natale, 35, scored both goals as fifth-placed Udinese beat Atalanta 2-1 to stay on course for the Europa League, with Lazio two points behind in sixth after beating Sampdoria 2-1.

Milan needed to beat Roma to clinch third place and a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds with a game to spare but, after a lively 40 minutes, it all went wrong with a moment of madness from Muntari.

The Ghanaian was booked, lost his temper and grabbed the referee's arm as Milan players protested, leaving the official with no option but to send him off.