Hellas Verona have been fined and ordered to close part of their stadium for their next home match after fans allegedly directed monkey chants at AC Milan and Black Stars midfielder, Sulley Muntari, Sunday.
The Serie A�s disciplinary tribunal said that around 3,000 of the 5,000 fans in Verona�s Curva Sud took part in the chanting, which was �clearly heard in other parts of the stadium�, when the Muntari had possession of the ball in Milan�s 3-1 win.
�Such behavior is a clear example of discrimination because of race,� the tribunal observed.
Verona, who have also been fined �50,000 (�39,500) for the chanting, have, however, vehemently denied the allegations.
�We believe that the television pictures are sufficient to refute categorically the biggest non-truth which, today, has been aimed at our glorious club and our glorious fans,� said Verona in a statement.
�In over 110 years of history, nobody has ever dared to say anything like this about us. No fan, no representative of the police, nor the Milan club, nor the player Sulley Muntari, or media present at the stadium on the day of the day � spoke of such an incident, leaving our club even more perplexed and angry about the action taken.�
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