Sampdoria midfielder Ronaldo Vieira has been subjected to racist chants by Roma fans during an Italian Serie A match - the latest incident involving offensive behaviour inside Italian stadiums this season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Referee Fabio Maresca heard the chants near the end of the first half of Sunday's game at Sampdoria's Luigi Ferraris stadium and let Vieira know about it.
The referee and Vieira walked off the field together at the interval but no announcement was made inside the stadium.
"Football has a responsibility to punish and educate the idiots in the stadium today," 21-year-old Vieira said on Instagram.
Offensive chants have also been aimed at Romelu Lukaku, Franck Kessie, Dalbert Henrique and Miralem Pjanic in Serie A this season.
Vieira, who was born in Guinea Bissau and is black, has represented England at youth level.
"AS Roma would like to apologise to Ronaldo Vieira for the racist boos he was subjected to," a statement on Roma's Twitter feed read.
"Roma does not tolerate racism of any kind and the club will support the authorities in identifying and subsequently banning any individuals found guilty of racially abusing the midfielder."
The match ended 0-0.
Australian Associated Press
