Roma get fine, coach suspended
Rome - Roma coach Luciano Spalletti was suspended for insulting the referee and his club was fined for the racist jeers its fans aimed at Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli at the weekend, Italian media reported.
Balotelli, an 18-year-old born in Italy to Ghanaian parents, was insulted on two occasions by Roma fans occupying a section of Milan's Giuseppe Meazza stadium, a sports judge wrote in a sentence that fined Roma 8,000 euros (10,000 dollars).
The promising under-21 international scored a brace, including a controversial spot kick awarded after his flooring, in a pulsating game that saw Serie A leaders Inter salvage a 3-3 draw rallying from two goals down.
After the game, Spalletti reportedly addressed the fourth official criticizing and insulting Nicola Rizzoli, a FIFA-listed referee since 2007. Spalletti was suspended for one game. (dpa)