The Senegal Football Federation (FSF) has condemned racial attacks on defender Kalidou Koulibaly in Italian Serie A where his side when his club beat Atalanta 3-1 on Sunday.
Koulibaly, who is the Senegal national team captain, received the racial abuse in Bergamo where fans were caught on camera shouting the racist taunts from the stands.
In a statement released on Monday, FSF says the incident was racist and discriminatory, and urged Atlanta to act swiftly on the matter.
“As per their sad habit, some Bergamo Atalanta fans have once again shown their human nonsense by reserving despicable and racist insults to our captain and leader Kalidou Koulibaly,” the Senegal FA posted on their official social media account.
“These brainless idiots have no room in a stadium. Come on Kalidou, the Senegalese people support you wholeheartedly and are close to you as a whole, proud of your courage, your example and your belonging to our race and our country.”
Atalanta has since reacted stating that they will pursue supporters who racially abused the 30-year-old Koulibaly.
“Any behaviour not in line with the principles of civility and good manners, which have always been defended by the club, will be strongly opposed,” Atalanta said in a statement.
“We don’t want to give any publicity to people who have nothing to do with us and as such we will work with the relevant authorities in order to protect the image of the club and the city of Bergamo.”
Italian football has been plagued by racism in recent months. At the beginning of the current season prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged racist chants by Lazio supporters directed at AC Milan midfielders Tiemoue Bakayoko and Franck Kessie.
