Juventus escapes with a 10,000 euro fine after fans disrupt Sandro Mazzola tribute

MILAN (AP) — Juventus was fined 10,000 euros ($11,500) on Tuesday after a section of its supporters disturbed a minute’s silence in honor of former Italy and Inter Milan star Sandro Mazzola.

Juventus risked having that section closed for its next match but the Italian league’s sporting judge said “the sanction was mitigated in light of the club’s prompt, formal stance regarding said deplorable behavior, as well as the fact that the rest of the crowd present at the stadium dissociated themselves from it.”

The tribute was being held at all Serie A matches over the weekend after Mazzola, widely considered one of Italy’s greatest players, died on Friday. He was 83.

The minute’s silence was interrupted in Turin, ahead of Sunday’s match against Atalanta, as a section of Juventus fans turned their backs on the field and chanted songs about their own club legends instead. Inter and Juventus are fierce rivals.

The chants were drowned out by applause from other supporters in the stadium — both home and away fans.

Juventus escapes with a 10,000 euro fine after fans disrupt Sandro Mazzola tribute | iNFOnews.ca
FILE – Inter Milan’s former players Sandro Mazzola, second left, with Jair of Brazil, left, Mario Corso and Luis Suarez, right, prior to the start of the Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match between Inter and Ajax at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, March 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Juventus issued a statement shortly after the match ended, condemning the behavior of its own fans.

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