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Napoli coach asked for match to be suspended after racist chants

By Alex Butler
Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal (R) and Yuya Osako of Japan in action during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group H preliminary round soccer match between Japan and Senegal on June 24 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Photo by Roman Pilipey/EPA-EFE
Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal (R) and Yuya Osako of Japan in action during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group H preliminary round soccer match between Japan and Senegal on June 24 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Photo by Roman Pilipey/EPA-EFE

Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti tried to get a match against Inter Milan suspended following racist chants from the crowd directed at defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

His efforts were to no avail as Napoli dropped the match 1-0 on Wednesday at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy.

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Koulibaly received his second yellow card of the match, resulting in a red card ejection in the 81st minute. He received his first yellow, then sarcastically applauded, resulting in the immediate second booking and departure.

Lautaro Martinez scored in stoppage time for Inter to secure the home victory.

Ancelotti told reporters after the match that the Senegalese defender lost his temper after numerous requests were made over the San Siro loudspeaker to stop the chants.

"There was a strange atmosphere, as we asked three times for play to be suspended, they had announcements with the speaker three times," Ancelotti said, according to The Guardian and Goal.com.

"Koulibaly was certainly irritable. Usually, he is very calm and professional, but he was subjected to monkey noises throughout the game. We asked three times for some action to be taken, but the match continued. We keep being told play can be halted, but when? After four or five announcements? Maybe we have to take matters into our own hands next time and stop play ourselves. They'll probably make us lose the game if we walk off, but we are prepared to do it. It's not good for Italian football, seeing this."

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Koulibaly, 27, began his Napoli tenure in 2014. He has 29 career appearances for the Senegal national team.

"I'm disappointed by the defeat, but above all at leaving my brothers," Koulibaly tweeted. "But I am proud of the color of my skin. Proud to be French, Senegalese, Neapolitan: a man."

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo also slammed the chants on Thursday with an Instagram post.

"In the world and in football, education and respect are always needed. No to racism and any offense & discrimination," Ronaldo wrote on a post, including a photo of himself playing against Koulibaly.

Napoli battles Bologna at noon on Saturday at Stadio San Paolo in Naples, Italy.

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