Lazio not a racist club, insists Lotito

Jan 6, 2013 2:37:00 PM

The 55-year-old has admitted some of his side's supporters occasionally misbehave, but has denied that the Biancocelesti have serious underlying problems

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has insisted that the Stadio Olimpico side are not a racist club after their 2-1 Serie A win over Cagliari was marred by abusive chants.

Rossoblu forward Victor Ibarbo was the victim of racist jeers by some Biancocelesti fans during Saturday's league encounter, but Lotito has distanced the club from the behaviour of small groups of its supporters.

"Lazio are always called a racist club, which is simply not true. We have lots of non-white players," Lotito told Sky Sport Italia.

"We cannot control the actions of individual fans. You risk criminalising thousands of fans for the actions of a few individuals by calling Lazio a racist club.

"We act tough towards fans when they misbehave. I can say that the vast majority of our supporters behaved themselves."

AC Milan walked off the pitch in last week's friendly against Pro Patria after several players were racially abused as racism continues to plague the Italian game.

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