The fan also faces criminal charges from the police as well as the three-year banning order
Thursday 10 October 2019 16:56, UK
A football supporter has been banned from attending matches in Italy for three years after racially abusing Roma forward Juan Jesus on social media.
Following Roma's 2-0 defeat to Atalanta in Serie A in September, the fan, who was named as Andrea Dell'Aquila on Instagram, sent discriminatory messages to Jesus on Instagram.
The 28-year-old Brazilian later responded, saying: "Roma, you already know what to do with a fan like that!! #notoracism I'm proud of what I am."
Roma, who are fifth in Italy's top flight, reported the matter to police and Instagram and confirmed that the fan would be banned from future matches.
It was the first time that a Serie A club had banned a supporter from its stadium for life, independent of a police decision, for racist comments on social media.
Now the fan has been given a DASPO (football banning order) by the police and will not be able to set foot inside a stadium for 36 months.
Separate to the ban, he has also been charged for stalking and threat with the aggravation of racist hate, crimes for which he has not been found guilty of and will attend court to defend himself against.
The supporter is yet to deny or admit to these charges.
Roma told Sky Sports News in a statement: "AS Roma condemns in the strongest possible terms any kind of racism and have called on all authorities to implement a zero-tolerance approach to dealing with the issue in football.
"When we were made aware of the racist abuse directed at Juan Jesus, we reported the incident to both the police and to Instagram and then issued a lifetime ban from all AS Roma matches.
"We welcome the news that the police have issued a three-year ban from any sporting event in Italy.
"This decision sends out a clear message that the tide is turning in Italian football and racism won't be tolerated."
The Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, also tweeted in support of the ban saying: "In football and in Rome there is no room for racial hatred and discrimination."
Roma winger Justin Kluivert told Sky Sports News in September that racist supporters should be jailed to deter discriminatory behaviour on social media.
Last month it was confirmed that the Italian Football Federation would not punish Cagliari after their supporters were heard racially abusing Inter Milan forward Romelu Lukaku in a game earlier this season.
Former Juventus striker Moise Kean was also subjected to monkey chants from supporters of the same club during a 2-0 win for the Serie A champions last term.
