Racial abuse aimed at Balotelli sees AC Milan's clash with Roma suspended

 Roma fans aimed racist abuse at Mario Balotelli

AC Milan's Serie A game on Sunday night was temporarily suspended because of racist abuse directed towards Mario Balotelli and other black players by Roma fans.

Referee Gianluca Rocchi halted the game and the stadium announcer told Roma supporters they must desist with their monkey chants against black Milan players, or the game would be postponed.

Dismissed: Sulley Muntari was sent off for restraining the referee

Earlier Sulley Muntari was sent off for restraining the referee when it seemed like he was going to issue Balotelli a second yellow card.

You're off: Totti was dismissed for a vicious elbow on Phillipe Mexes

Roma captain Francesco Totti and his Milan counterpart Massimo Ambrosini were among the senior players who had complained to Rocchi before he suspended play. Totti was later sent off for an elbow on Milan defender Phillipe Mexes, as the game petered out to a 0-0 draw.

Hold up: The game was nearly postponed because of the abuse

Halted: Balotelli and Kevin Prince-Boateng stand together during the stadium announcement

In January a friendly between Milan and Pro Patria was suspended because of racist chants aimed at Kevin-Prince Boateng.

The Italian Football Federation introduced new rules to help referees tackle racist behaviour in the wake of Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng's decision to walk off the pitch in a January friendly against Pro Patria in the face of abuse.

Referees are now able to call matches to a halt for an announcement to be made demanding an end to chants. Should any such announcements fail to have an effect on offenders, match and stadium officials are ultimately authorised to abandon the game.

               

Should any such announcements fail to have an effect on offenders, match and stadium officials are ultimately authorised to abandon the game.

The Rossoneri must now wait until the final day of the campaign to match or better fourth-placed Fiorentina's result, while Roma's only hope of a foray into Europe rests on success in the Coppa Italia final, where they face Lazio.