A public prosecutor is set to open a criminal inquiry after a friendly match between AC Milan and lower division club Pro Patria was abandoned following racist chanting by fans.
The ANSA news agency reports that the prosecutor in the northern town of Busto Arsizio is likely to pursue charges of inciting racial hatred against Pro Patria fans who abused Milan's black players.
After repeated chants directed his way during Thursday's game, Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng kicked the ball in anger at a section of the crowd and walked off the pitch with the rest of the Milan team.
Former France international Lilian Thuram, who played in Italy with Parma and Juventus, says it was "the first time a big club took responsibility to make such a decisive step."
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| Teams | GP | W | D | L | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 38 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 93 |
| 2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 86 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 78 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 38 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 76 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 38 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 75 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 38 | 18 | 15 | 5 | 69 |
| 7 | Everton | 38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 61 |
| 8 | Southampton | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 46 |
| 9 | Bournemouth | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 46 |
| 10 | West Bromwich Albion | 38 | 12 | 9 | 17 | 45 |