Serie A action between Fiorentina and Juventus was temporarily suspended due to abhorrent racist chanting directed at Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic. The incident occurred during the first half of the match, prompting the referee, Doveri, to halt play in the 19th minute.
Racist Chants Mar Serie A Clash
Reports indicate that racist slurs were emanating from the Fiorentina supporters' section, specifically targeting Vlahovic. This reprehensible behaviour led to an announcement over the stadium's public address system, urging fans to cease the discriminatory chants. However, the chants persisted, forcing the referee to take decisive action.
Captain's Plea and Resumption of Play
Fiorentina captain Ranieri intervened, appealing to his team's supporters to stop the racist abuse. After a brief pause of just over a minute, the match resumed. The incident highlights the ongoing struggle against racism in football and the need for continued efforts to eradicate it.
Match Highlights: Fiorentina vs. Juventus
Despite the interruption, the game continued with moments of excitement. Kean struck the crossbar in the 25th minute with a powerful shot from a tight angle. Earlier, Mandragora's free-kick narrowly missed the target. Cambiaso's shot was blocked by Ranieri, while Vlahovic was initially awarded a penalty, but the decision was overturned by VAR due to a foul by Vlahovic himself. Fagioli received a yellow card for a foul on Locatelli.
- Kean hits the crossbar
- Racist chants lead to temporary suspension
- VAR overturns penalty decision
The starting lineups for the match were as follows:
Fiorentina: de Gea; Pongracic, Mari, Ranieri (C); Dodo, Mandragora, Fagioli, Sohm, Parisi; Kean, Piccoli.
Juventus: Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; Cambiaso, Locatelli (C), Thuram, Kostic; McKennie, Yildiz; Vlahovic.
The match eventually ended in a 0-0 draw.