Following their Serie A match on Sunday, Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly claimed that he was racially harassed by a portion of Fiorentina fans.
Victor Osimhen and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa were also targeted after Napoli’s defeat, according to Italian tabloid Gazzetta dello Sport.
Koulibaly stated he had heard the abuse from the stands and appealed for action alongside a photo of himself pointing into the crowd.
“‘Fucking monkey’ – that’s what they called me,” Koulibaly said on his Twitter and Instagram accounts. “These subjects have nothing to do with sport.
“They must be identified and kept out of the stadiums: forever. #NoToRacism.”
Nigerian striker Osimhen released a statement via social media, which was retweeted by the official Napoli team account.
“Speak to your kids, your parents, make them understand how disgusting it is to hate an individual because of the colour of their skin,” wrote the Nigeria international. NOTORACISM.”
Fiorentina condemned the incident on Monday.
“Fiorentina expresses the most firm and harsh condemnation for the episodes of racism that took place yesterday during the match against Napoli,” the Serie A club said in a statement.
“General Manager (Joe) Barone, already after the match, personally apologised.
“La Viola (Fiorentina) has already made available to the police all the video images and all the tools in its possession so that the culprits of these unspeakable chants are identified.
“Once the responsible institutions have identified the culprits, it will be the care of Fiorentina itself to prohibit them from accessing the stadium, hoping the same commitment from all the clubs, as well as the application of the rules that must always be the same for everyone.”
Florence’s mayor also released a statement on Monday.
“On behalf of Florence, I apologise,” Dario Nardella said on Twitter. “Whoever yesterday offended the players of the Napoli at the stadium does not represent the city and does not represent Fiorentina.”
Racism has long been a problem in Italian football. Prosecutors launched an investigation last month into alleged racist chants thrown against AC Milan midfielders Tiemoue Bakayoko and Franck Kessie by Lazio fans, while Juventus was compelled to issue an apology when its women’s team account tweeted a racist gesture in August.
Napoli came from behind to win 2-1 in Florence, retaining their perfect start to the Serie A season and keeping their lead in the standings.
